MESSAGE received, “loud and clear”.
Member for Northern Victoria Mark Gepp said the Swan Hill Needs a New Hospital campaign committee left him in “no doubt” as to their demands in a face-to-face meeting in Swan Hill on Tuesday.
The Labor MP stopped by the Splatt Street hospital building for a tour of the facility, before meeting with committee members to discuss the infrastructure and funding needs.
Speaking to The Guardian after the meeting, Mr Gepp said it was clear the hospital was in need of an upgrade.
“Look, I have known for a while that there is need in this hospital in terms of its infrastructure upgrades,” he said.
“I have been working with the hospital for the past 18 months for additional funding and we have been able to secure some of that money through the regional health infrastructure fund — some $3.4 million — we have also increased the operating budget to in excess of $40 million, which is a 25 per cent increase on when the Coalition were last in power in 2014.”
Mr Gepp admitted the budget increase and the $3.4 million in funding fell short of the investment the health service required.
“No, they are certainly not [sufficient] , there is more that needs to be done and what we are proposing to do is develop a master plan,” he said.
To read more of this story, grab a copy of the October 19 edition of The Guardian.
