Health Minister Greg Hunt spruiks public hospital funding boost

THE bosses of all Victorian public hospitals have received an extraordinary letter from federal Health Minister Greg Hunt, who is trying to bypass Daniel Andrews to sell a $7 billion health funding boost.

THE bosses of all Victorian public hospitals have received an extraordinary letter from federal Health Minister Greg Hunt, who is trying to bypass Daniel Andrews to sell a $7 billion health funding boost.

As the federal and state governments bicker over the terms of a new five-year hospital funding agreement, Mr Hunt has chosen to directly contact more than 80 local hospital network chairmen, who usually deal with the state government.

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The letter, sent on Wednesday, spruiks the benefits of the Commonwealth’s offer — so far rejected by Mr Andrews — which would inject $31 billion into Victorian hospitals in 2025.

Health Minister Greg Hunt is trying to bypass Daniel Andrews to sell a $7 billion health funding boost. Picture: AAP

Mr Hunt said he wanted to “provide you with factual, publicly available information on the Commonwealth’s funding to public hospitals”.

The Andrews Government argues the federal offer would “short-change” Victorian hospitals by $2.1 billion over five years because the funding boosts would not keep up with increasing patient demand.

“It is important all governments work together to deliver greater support for hospital services to benefit Australians,” Mr Hunt wrote.