STATE ELECTION: Warragul hospital promised funds

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.