Six weeks out from the state election, federal Lalor MP Joanne Ryan has urged the state government to commit to building a critical care unit at Werribee’s Mercy Hospital.
Last week, Premier Denis Napthine committed $120 million to a specialist cardiac hospital at Clayton, if the Coalition is re-elected. Ms Ryan said it was time Wyndham received some medical attention.
“This cardiac hospital is great news for the east, but what about the Werribee Mercy Hospital?”
She said Werribee was a high growth area of more than 200,000 people, with the closest critical care unit 26 kilometres away.
“A critical care unit [at Mercy Hospital] would enable it to assist high-needs patients locally, instead of sending them on to Footscray, Sunshine or the city.”
Mercy Health chief executive Adjunct Professor Stephen Cornelissen said the hospital needed $85 million for a critical care unit, expanded theatres and wards.
“The lack of critical care facilities means the hospital is very limited in its ability to respond,” he said. “Each month, between 85 and 90 patients are transferred from the Werribee Mercy Hospital emergency department to other hospitals.
The unprecedented growth in the region warrants an urgent commitment of funds. The time to act is now.”
