- Published:
- Wednesday 7 January 2015
The previous Liberal Government signed Victorians up for longer hospital waiting lists, secret agreements have revealed.
The Department of Health has today published the 2014-15 Statements of Priorities – annual agreements between the Minister and 80 health services which establish operating result targets and expected admission figures and waiting list numbers.
The agreements show the Liberals approved longer waiting lists at Mercy Public Hospitals, Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute, The Royal Victorian Eye & Ear Hospital and St Vincent’s Health.
The Liberals also agreed to fewer admissions at a number of hospitals, including Austin Health, Mercy Public Hospitals and the Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute.
The Liberals were not able to finalise agreements with Calvary, Swan Hill and Melbourne Health. The Andrews Labor Government will work with these health services to finalise their Statements of Priorities.
The former Liberal Government kept these agreements secret. The Labor Government will publish all Statements of Priorities by 1 November every year, because Victorians deserve to know the state of their local hospital.
The Labor Government has appointed respected surgeon and former AMA Victoria President, Dr Doug Travis, to conduct a state-wide audit of bed and theatre capacity, and provide recommendations about how to increase the capacity of Victorian hospitals.
Quotes attributable to the Minister for Health, Jill Hennessy
“The Liberals condemned our loved ones to longer hospital waiting lists and these secret agreements prove it.”
“Under the Liberals, our health system was in crisis and too many people were waiting too long for treatment.”
“We’re working with the experts to open the hospital beds and theatres that the Liberals closed, so our loved ones get the support they need.”
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