Prison doctors want George Pell moved from Melbourne Assessment Prison

Prison doctors are pushing for the immediate relocation of George Pell, expressing concerns for the disgraced Vatican cleric who has so far spent three nights behind bars.

Prison doctors are pushing for the immediate relocation of George Pell so he can get better medical treatment.

The disgraced Vatican cleric has spent three nights behind bars at Melbourne Assessment Prison, where doctors have expressed concerns for his health.

A prison insider has revealed medical staff who assessed Pell on his arrival to prison want him moved to a prison with better medical facilities due to his “chronic health issues.”

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Prison doctors fear for George Pell’s health.

But the move won’t happen as immediately as doctors like, said the source.

“The doctor who saw him wants him moved on as soon as possible,” the insider said.

“Ararat and Port Phillip Prison are options. Both have more clinics and nurses.

“But we have had inmates a lot worse than him … one guy was really bad and it took a week to move him.”

Pell suffers from a long-term heart condition and had double knee surgery late last year.

In December he was found guilty of sex acts committed against two choirboys in 1996 while he was the Archbishop of Melbourne.

The conviction was revealed on Tuesday after a suppression order banning reporting of the case was lifted.

Pell will return to court on March 13 for sentencing. He is appealing the conviction.

George Pell is being held at Melbourne Assessment Prison. Picture: Ian Currie

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Meanwhile, Premier Daniel Andrews said today the Catholic Church had not done enough to protect victims of child abuse.

“I for one am pretty well sick and tired of the Catholic Church acting as if it were the worst insurance company going around,” he said.

“I think there needs to be more done and whilst I won’t be drawn on the details of this week because there’s an appeal been lodged … the church needs to do better.

“I think the events of this week have made it very difficult for the Catholic Church to assert that they are more concerned about victims than they are about preserving the church, and that’s sad.”

Mr Andrews said there were good people who were trying to help victims and build a better future for the church, but that the events of this week reminded people of dark days when priests were moved around to different parishes and victims were ignored.

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Originally published as Prison doctors want George Pell moved from Melbourne Assessment Prison