Surgeon who treated Premier Daniel Andrews hits out at state government

The doctor who helped salvage Daniel Andrews’ spine has taken aim at the dire state of hospitals under the Premier’s watch.

The doctor who helped salvage Daniel Andrews’ spine has taken aim at the dire state of Victoria’s hospitals under the current government.

Professor Mark Fitzgerald, director of trauma service at The Alfred, treated the Premier after he slipped on wet stairs and suffered spinal injuries, a collapsed lung and broken ribs in 2021.

But now Mr Fitzgerald says his hospital and others are “getting strung along” by Mr Andrews’ government.

“We are at the end game here; we’ve had strategic plans in for 12 years, particularly the operating complex is well past its used by date and we really just want an answer,” he told the Today Show.

“I can cop it and everyone else can cop it if we’re not getting funding, but we just kept getting strung along, years after years, elections after elections and, you know, we just want to know what’s going on, that’s the bottom line.”

Professor Mark Fitzgerald from The Alfred Hospital Emergency and Trauma Centre.

Mr Fitzgerald went on to say the hospital’s facilities are decades old, which is negatively impacting its frontline workers.

“The operating theatres were built, I think, in the 1960s. They’re not fit-for-purpose,” he said.

“People are coming up to us at work, the staff are upset, should they stay here? Should they continue working at this hospital or look for employment elsewhere? I’m here on behalf of the staff to represent their feelings.”

Mr Fitzgerald said he had tried to contact the Premier’s office multiple times in an attempt to amend the situation.

“I sent an email; I was told it would be eight to 10 weeks before I’d get a response,” he said. “Then I rang the office; very pleasant person and I explained the circumstance, I explained who I was, what I did, the issues that we had, and she said someone would get back to me within the next 24 hours.

Premier of Victoria Daniel Andrews has denied Professor Mark Fitzgerald’s claims. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Crosling

“I don’t want to blindside him, but I just want a simple yes or no – whether we’re going to get funded or not, what’s our future, are we going to stay on site or not. And I hadn’t heard anything.”

However, the Premier was quick to hit back at Mr Fitzgerald’s claims, telling reporters on Thursday he was “simply not right”.

“I’m not aware of any calls that have been made. (Mr Fitzgerald) hasn’t called me,” Mr Andrews said.

“You’re putting it to me that somehow I have done this? No. There was a one line email two weeks ago and if it hasn’t already been followed up, it will be followed up.

“There is no quarrel between him and me.”

The Premier suffered broken ribs and spinal damage after falling on wet stairs at a Mornington Peninsula holiday house in March last year. He later said the injuries left him unable to breathe, let alone call for help.

He was rushed to the intensive care unit at The Alfred before taking three months off work to recover.

Originally published as Surgeon who treated Premier Daniel Andrews hits out at state government