Cash boost delivery

By Casey Neill
HILLS mums and bubs are set for a boost.
Health Minister Daniel Andrews last Tuesday announced $2.8 million in funding for Eastern Health at Upper Ferntree Gully’s Angliss Hospital.
The cash included $379,100 for the Angliss to buy two resuscitation cots, two infant incubators, a portable ultrasound unit and 44 infusion pumps.
“This equipment will mean the hospital can continue to provide top quality care to families, particularly mothers and babies, in the growing areas of Melbourne’s outer east,” Mr Andrews said.
Eastern Health’s acute health executive director Janet Compton said the hospital delivered about 2200 babies each year.
They are expecting the birth of their 85,000th baby next month.
“This funding will allow us to replace high-priority, high-cost medical equipment to allow us to continue to provide excellent care for our community,” Ms Compton said.
“This important equipment will ensure we continue to provide excellent maternity services for local families.”
Mr Andrews announced $1.08 million for Maroondah Hospital to replace 10 intensive care unit beds, a transport ventilator, 19 infusion pumps and equipment in its central sterile supply department.
The funding was part of the State Government’s 2010/11 Targeted Equipment Program.
Mr Andrews said this would deliver $35 million for state-of-the-art medical equipment to ensure Victorian hospitals remained at the forefront of new technology.