Regional health cuts: Minister rules out Mildura Hospital emergency department closure

Victoria’s health minister has rushed to allay fears key services at a regional hospital will be shut. The community is not convinced.

North West Victorians remain fearful they could lose their emergency department, despite reassurances from the Health Minister that the state government will not close any key hospital services.

Health Minister Mary Anne Thomas said the Mildura community “can be assured” closure of the Mildura Base Hospital emergency department, maternity, pediatric or Aboriginal health services was “unacceptable” and will not happen under the Allan Government.

Leaked documents seen by The Weekly Times last week showed the hospital could be forced to shut the above services to meet the Department of Health’s directive to achieve a “net even position”.

Such a move could see tens of thousands of patients forced to seek urgent medical care up to 400km away.

Victorian Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas has reassured regional Victorians emergency rooms will not be closed under the Allen Government. Picture: Kelly Barnes

The Weekly Times understands the self-described “Extreme+” measures were in response to mounting pressure from the government to find millions in savings.

The leaked documents state the MBPH board agreed to update its budget action plan after the Department of Health rejected its first plan as “insufficient”.

MBPH declined to comment.

Mildura resident Kellie Ladewig said she feared for the future of her community, and closure of any services would be “absolutely detrimental”.

“As a mum, my child had asthma growing up, so if you’re in an emergency situation, it would be detrimental,” Ms Ladewig said.

Ms Ladewig said many families were worried they would be forced to relocate if there was no emergency department.

“We want better health care, we shouldn’t have to drive for four hours for our child, in an emergency, to be seen,” Ms Ladewig said.

The Weekly Times submitted a number questions to Ms Thomas, including could she guarantee Mildura and other regional hospitals would not have to close emergency departments, and how the government intended to support budget cuts without reducing key services.

Ms Thomas did not provide detail on how further cuts would be achieved, instead stating:

“Final budgets for health services will be set soon and discussions are ongoing,” Ms Thomas said.

Documents leaked from Mildura Base Public Hospital show the extremes the hospital would need to go to in order to meet break even demands from the State Government.

The hospital has a catchment of about 87,000 people, and is the major public referral health service for the Northern Mallee subregion within Victoria’s Loddon Mallee region, NSW’s far west, and South Australia’s Riverland.