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Warragul Hospital has welcomed news its maternity ward will expand to cope with a growing West Gippsland population under a re-elected Coalition Government.
Health Minister David Davis announced on Monday $2.5 million would be spent upgrading the maternity ward as well as building a third operating theatre.
Member for Narracan Gary Blackwood followed this with an announcement on Wednesday to put $1 million toward the construction of accommodation for visiting health professionals to the hospital.
WGH board chair Brian Davey said the funds would contribute to the hospitals $4 million target to purchase homes near the proposed site of a new hospital and joins $1 million already raised through community donations.
“There were three things we requested from both parties… the third is a commitment to a business case study (of a new hospital),” Mr Davey said.
He said the maternity ward expansion would allow the hospital to meet current demands, but was still a short-term solution.
Mr Blackwood said the upgrades would not affect the timeline of building a new hospital.
“This $2.5 million expansion is in direct response to the hospital’s needs right now… issues that need to be addressed immediately,” Mr Blackwood said.
Mr Blackwood said despite his calls for a business case study, the State Government was yet to commit to funding for one, but it had not been ruled out.
