By MELISSA MEEHAN
IT’S still five months away, but the Angliss Hospital is shaping up to become a huge local issue in the lead-up to September’s State Election.
Eastern Health has already pushed their plan to revamp and rebuild the Angliss, and hope the election will help their agenda.
At a recent Upper Ferntree Gully Auxillary AGM, Eastern Health CEO Alan Lily said he was pleased with the recent completion of a master plan for the future of the Angliss Hospital.
“While we have no promises of funding just yet,” he said.
“We’re hoping the looming election will give us the boost we need.
“And that it’ll be helped by the fact that we are ready and willing to go.”
But neither party has thrown their support behind the expansion just yet, preferring to focus on health funding cuts from both the current and past governments.
Last week, Ferntree Gully candidate Matt Posetti and Monbulk MP James Merlino invited the Mail to the hospital to discuss the Federal Government’s plan to slash $277 million from Victorian hospitals.
While the cuts have not been announced, nor confirmed by the Federal Government in the lead-up to the budget, Mr Posetti and Mr Merlino were quick to attack the Liberal Party at federal and state level.
“Denis Naphthine’s cuts were bad enough,” Mr Posetti said.
“Of all the states and territories, Tony Abbott has hit Victoria the hardest.”
Ferntree Gully MP Nick Wakeling responded to the claims, saying that the government was considering a number of capital redevelopments as part of the budget process.
“Eastern Health has not been advised of any Federal Government budget cuts for hospitals, the state and federal budgets haven’t been released and won’t be announced until May,” Mr Wakeling said.
Do you think the Angliss Hospital needs a revamp and expansion? Email editor@yvnews.com.au
