Petition to state government as Mildura revealed as ground zero for Victoria’s escalating hospital crisis

Sick and angry Mildura locals have become the public face of a deepening state hospital crisis with the government being blamed for a lack of beds and massive delays in getting treatment.

Mildura Base Public Hospital is part of Victoria’s ailing health system.

A public hospital in the state’s north is the epicentre of Victoria’s battling health system, with bed shortages, emergency code yellows fuelling public outrage and calls for urgent government assistance.

At the Parliamentary Accounts and Estimates Committee inquiry into the 2025–26 Budget on Tuesday, Mildura Nationals MP Jade Benham blasted Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas, demanding answers on the shortage of emergency department beds after a recent code yellow at Mildura Base Public Hospital.

A recent code yellow at Mildura Base Public Hospital saw some patients waiting more than 24 hours for care. Picture: Generic

A code yellow is declared when the hospital has no free beds, resulting in lengthy wait times. Reports suggest some people waited more than 24 hours in the emergency department during the code yellow.

During the inquiry, Ms Thomas announced four additional subacute beds for the hospital, but, as with previous approaches by this masthead, did not outline a long-term plan.

“The Minister’s announcement of four subacute beds is a start, but it is nowhere near enough for a hospital under this much pressure,” Ms Benham said.

Mildura National MP Jade Benham says a clear and committed long-term plan is needed to fix long-term problems at the hospital.

“We need a clear and committed long-term plan to address the pressure on our hospital.”

While the Minister for Health acknowledged the code yellow at the inquiry, she did not detail a long-term plan to address the ongoing issues.

“The Minister is fooling no one, (it) has no clear, long-term path forward to properly support MBPH. The resources and attention are not matching the demand,” Ms Benham said.

Mildura’s hospital crisis is just one part of Victoria’s health emergency that was tragically highlighted when an elderly Blackburn man bled to death despite calling triple-0 twice, all while five ambulances sat just a suburb away in Box Hill.

A code yellow was declared at Mildura Base Hospital ED resulting in lengthy wait times. Picture: Stuart Kavanagh

Mildura local Kellie Ladewig has ramped up the pressure on the state government, launching a petition demanding it urgently addresses the hospital’s shortfalls.

“The time for action is now and with a state election coming up next year we need (our hospital) to be at the forefront,” Ms Ladewig said.

“We outgrew that hospital not long after it was built, we deserve better, we can just keep being ignored.

“No more broken promises it has cost our community enough already. These state government Band-Aid fixes have gone on for too long.”

When asked specific questions about how the situation at MBPH could be improved, a government spokesman said they would work with Mildura Base Public Hospital to ensure high-quality care.

The situation at Mildura hospital has become so dire that locals have taken it upon themselves to lobby the government for change with a petition. Picture: Generic

“We know how important it is for regional communities like Mildura to have the care they need, closer to home. In this year’s budget we’re delivering a record $9.3bn for our hospitals,” the spokesman said.

“We will continue to work closely with Mildura Hospital to further strengthen access to high-quality care for the local community.”

Originally published as Petition to state government as Mildura revealed as ground zero for Victoria’s escalating hospital crisis