The future of a $28 million building at Werribee Mercy Hospital remains in limbo five months after it opened.
Last month, Star Weekly exclusively revealed that the Catherine McAuley Centre – a 60-bed, fully occupied rehabilitation and geriatric medicine complex for patients recovering from surgery or serious injury – was in danger of closing due to federal and state budget pressures.
Mercy Health executive director Dr Linda Mellors confirmed federal funding for services in the new building would end on June 30.
Last week, Mercy Health chief executive Stephen Cornelissen said hospital management was working through the funding crisis.
He said there were no plans to increase revenue by raising parking fees or other costs for patients.
“We’re awaiting advice on our 2014-15 budget, but we are confident both levels of government will resolve the issue soon,” he said.
“At this point we are not aware of any viable alternative to government funding.”
State Health Minister David Davis said he was confident a solution could be found.
“[There are] a number of items we have pointed to that are difficulties in the federal budget, but the final calculations are not yet done,’’ he said.
‘‘What I can say is that early estimates understated the amount of funding available from the federal government.”
Mr Davis said the hospital may be able to take advantage of growth funding provided in the federal budget.
