Footscray Hospital supporters are demanding a reversal to the federal government’s multi-billion dollar cuts to public hospitals and health services.
An online petition started by Monika Thomas cites estimates by activist group GetUp that suggest Footscray Hospital stands to lose more than $1 billion in federal funding in the next decade.
More than 450 people have signed the petition, urging a reversal of $54 billion in hospital and healthcare cuts.
“These enormous funding cuts come at a time when the Australian Medical Association and Australian Nursing & Midwifery Federation are warning of an imminent crisis unless hospital funding is increased,” the petition says.
“They could mean fewer doctors, nurses, or beds, and longer emergency room and elective surgery wait times.”
The $1039 million projected funding loss at Footscray Hospital was calculated by dividing the amount of funding to be lost in Victoria by the number of beds in the hospital.
‘Factually incorrect’
Federal Health Minister Sussan Ley said the GetUp campaign was out of date, factually incorrect and a deliberate attempt to mislead voters.
“The Coalition has publicly committed to investing over $23 billion to Victoria’s hospitals over five years, yet GetUp has deliberately kept this fact from residents in the west,” she said.
