The State Minister for Health Infrastructure, Melissa Horne, has been asked to urgently
provide a new lift for the Bairnsdale Hospital.
Speaking in State Parliament, Gippsland East MP, Tim Bull, said it was not good enough the largest hospital in the region
did not have a reliable
working lift.
“It fails frequently and was inoperable 12 times alone in the 2024/25 reporting period – and being 30 years old, the infrastructure cannot fit a standard sized hospital bed,” Mr Bull said.
“I explained to the Minister the hospital maternity ward is located on the first floor, with the operating theatre on the ground floor. When the lift is out of action, pregnant women in need of an emergency caesarean must be taken down a flight of stairs, while in labour – and I note 91 caesareans were performed there last year.
“Quite rightly, the community wants to know how it is acceptable that there is not a reliable lift at the hospital.”
Mr Bull said he understands a recent funding application under the Regional Health Infrastructure Fund was rejected.
“The frustrating element about this is the application for $1.65 million was rejected due to a criteria issue, as the application stated a new lift was required rather than a replacement,” he said.
“It is incredibly disappointing no-one from the Department picked up the phone to assist in amending the application – it was just refused without any interaction.
“Whether it is inside or outside the grants program, the funding allocation needs to be made to address this matter,” he said.
