The Andrews government is promising a billion-dollar revamp of a Melbourne hospital, with plans to rename it after the late Queen Elizabeth II.
Key points:
- The Victorian government has promised a billion-dollar upgrade to a hospital in Melbourne's east
- Maroondah Hospital will be renamed Queen Elizabeth II Hospital under the plan
- The announcement comes just one day after a similar funding announcement by the Coalition
The government announced it will spend between $850 million and $1.05 billion on redeveloping and expanding the Maroondah Hospital in Ringwood should it be returned to government in November's state election.
The proposal would see the new Queen Elizabeth II hospital receive a new emergency department, operating theatres and more than 200 additional beds for in-patients.
The tender process for the development would begin following the state election on November 26.
Should the development go ahead, construction would begin in 2025 with the new facility opening in stages from 2029.
Premier Daniel Andrews said the size and scope of the redevelopment plan meant the hospital would be transformed into a new facility.
"It's so big that it is essentially a brand new Maroondah Hospital and a new hospital for the east needs a new name," Mr Andrews said.
"I can't think of a better way to acknowledge the profound contribution, the duty and service, that the late Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II provided to our state and to the people of Melbourne and Victoria."
Coalition stands by $400m funding promise
The announcement comes just one day after the Coalition's promise to provide $400 million in funding to upgrade Maroondah hospital, part of the opposition's $6 billion health reform package.
Under the Coalition plan, the upgrade would also feature a new emergency department and an extra 100 beds.
Opposition leader Matthew Guy said the Coalition's announcement on Saturday was just one part of a whole-state reform package on health, and criticised the timing of Mr Andrew's announcement.
"If [the premier] really wanted to put a billion dollars into the Maroondah Hospital, he's had eight years to do that," Mr Guy said.
"The guy's been there a long time, and now he fronts up just before an election and says 'trust me, I'm here to fix the problem',
"He caused the problem."
Mr Andrews downplayed any connection between the announcements and said the Coalition had not provided sufficient details of their plans.
"They're not particularly relevant to what we're announcing today and they show that with the absolute inadequacy of the commitments they made yesterday," he said.
"Providing half or less than half of what is needed is wrong."
Mr Andrews cast doubt over the Coalition’s funding proposal, claiming that building a new emergency department alone would cost $375 million.
Mr Guy rejected the assertion and said he was confident the funding would stack up.
“We’ve had our commitments through the parliamentary budget office, which is a hell of a lot more independent than the state Labor government,” Mr Guy said.
“We will not be lectured by this bloke when it comes to fixing our health system.”
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiWmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDIyLTA5LTE4L21hcm9vbmRhaC1ob3NwaXRhbC1mdW5kaW5nLWxhYm9yLWVsZWN0aW9uLzEwMTQ1MTc2MNIBAA?oc=5
2022-09-18 03:12:37Z
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