The commitment to fund an extra $10 million for Northeast Health Wangaratta was a deeply personal one for Premier Daniel Andrews, whose father had been treated for cancer at the hospital just a few years ago.
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If Labor is successful in next month’s Victorian election, the $22.1 million already announced over the past year will be increased to $32.1 million.
“Whenever my family turned to this place, there was always support and love and care, but it was clear to us that there was a little bit more we have to do,” Mr Andrews said on Monday.
“This is the biggest investment in Wangaratta hospital in the history of this outstanding hospital.”
He put his arm around NEW chief executive Margaret Bennett after the announcement as she said “thank you” for the funding promise.
Health Minister Jill Hennessy said the money would be added to work to refurbish the maternity unit and expand the emergency department.
“We know it’s an important investment for this health service to continue to provide as many important services as close to home as possible,” she said.
Their trip back to the premier’s home town was the first stop on the road in the big Labor bus after the election campaign was officially launched on Sunday.
One of the first announcements was for an extra 500,000 specialist appointments in regional Victoria so patients did not have to travel long distances.
“One of the last conversations, proper conversations one-on-one, that I had with my father was on one of his many visits to Melbourne for special care,” Mr Andrews said.
“He never complained about it, but it wasn’t right that he had to spend so much of his final time away from his local community.”
He did not go as far as committing the full $32 million would be in the 2019-20 budget, but said it would be provided quickly.
Mr Andrews and wife Cath also stopped by Londrigan after the announcement to visit his mum Jan at the family farm for lunch.
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