ALP pledges Maroondah Hospital emergency department for kids

A multimillion-dollar emergency department for children will be built at Maroondah Hospital if Labor wins next week’s state election.

A multimillion-dollar emergency department for children will be built at Maroondah Hospital if Labor wins next week’s state election.

And the Coalition has also pledged to consider the initiative if it salutes on November 24.

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Premier Daniel Andrews yesterday announced the Government would spend $62.4 million to create dedicated emergency departments for children at five Victorian hospitals, including Ringwood East-based Maroondah, if re-elected.

Children’s emergency departments would also be rolled out at Frankston, Casey, Barwon Health and Northern hospitals.

Maroondah Hospital’s emergency department would be reconfigured to accommodate the new centre, which would offer dedicated space and around-the-clock support for children and their families.

Labor has promised a new emergency department for children at Maroondah Hospital if it wins next week’s state election.

Labor’s Ringwood candidate Dustin Halse said the party was giving patients the healthcare system that they deserve.

Health Minister Jill Hennessy’s spokesman Patrick Lane was unable to provide a breakdown of funding for the five sites.

Mr Lane said existing emergency department staff at Maroondah Hospital would move into the new children’s centre once it was built.

He said design and planning would begin straight away if the Government was re-elected, with construction to begin in 2021.

Ringwood state Liberal MP Dee Ryall said she had not had any families raise concerns with her office about waiting times and emergency responses at Maroondah Hospital.

But Ms Ryall said the Coalition would be happy to consider the initiative if it was elected.

Eastern Health, which operates Maroondah Hospital, has been contacted for comment.

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