Swan Hill hospital’s budget crisis

THE head of Swan Hill District Health (SHDH) is not confident the hospital will be able to cover a $270,000 funding cut in short notice, with longer waiting times for surgery patients a likely result.

Last month, Victorian Health Minister Jill Henessy wrote to the state’s hospitals saying the Commonwealth was clawing back $73 million from its health funding arrangement with the State Government.

With the funding cutback expected to be executed sometime this month SHDH would need to cover a $270,000 shortfall in its budget bottom line, according to the hospital’s chief executive, Ted Rayment.

Speaking to the ABC last week, Mr Rayment said this had the potential to result in drastic cuts to key services, and patients on waiting lists for surgery would be the first to suffer.

For more on this story, grab a copy of Monday’s Guardian (March 14).