By Parker McKenzie
Both the Labor Party and the Liberal opposition made competing election commitments across the weekend for a Maroondah Hospital upgrade as Victoria’s healthcare system continues to be a key talking point ahead of the November 26 state election.
On Saturday 17 September, Liberal Party leader Matthew Guy announced a $400 million upgrade to the hospital if his party wins the state election.
“The eastern suburbs depend on the Maroondah Hospital,” Mr Guy said.
“That’s why this $400 million announcement for ICU upgrades, for cancer centres to be upgraded, but most importantly for a training facility to be built on site is so important.”
The commitment includes a new emergency department, a new ICU and critical care unit, a new wing expanding the number of hospital beds from 100 to 426, additional and refurbished operating theatres, a training facility for nurses and doctors, an expansion for the cancer centre, an expanded mental health unit and 300 additional car spaces.
Croydon MP David Hodgett said people are talking about the hospital and its needs “all the time.”
“300 new car parks, 150 of those for staff, one of the big issues,” he said.
“I can’t tell you how big this news is, it’s great, it services the electorate of Croydon and will be people will be enormously happy.”
Evelyn MP Bridget Vallence said it was tremendous news for the community in the Yarra Ranges.
“So many people in the Yarra Ranges, our older residents and our young families with their kids come to Maroondah Hospital when they need healthcare,” she said.
“This hospital is seeing extensive wait times for surgery, wait times for emergency, and our plan we will increase the capacity of beds, build a new emergency department and of course importantly training facility for nurses.”
A day later on Sunday 18 September, the Labor Party announced an election commitment of its own: $850 million to $1.05 billion in funding for a new and expanded emergency department, 200 new inpatient beds, a dedicated children’s emergency department, new operating theatres and day procedure units and a new mental health hub.
Premier Daniel Andrews said the upgrade would see thousands more patients being treated each year, with construction starting in 2025.
“A new hospital for the east needs a new name, that’s why it’s going to be the Queen Elizabeth II Hospital,” he said.
“This is great for jobs as well. 2,500 construction workers will build this hospital for families across Melbourne’s east.”
Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas said the hospital will provide the modern facilities for “our hardworking nurses, midwives and doctors need to provide the very best care for families in the growing eastern suburbs.”
“We’ve made it free to study nursing and midwifery, creating a pipeline for future healthcare workers,” she said.
“When the new Queen Elizabeth II Hospital opens from 2029, we’ll have the workforce needed ready to go.”
Bayswater MP Jackson Taylor said the outer east deserves first-rate hospitals.
“Alongside our upgrade and expansion of the Angliss, this new redevelopment at Maroondah will mean our community has access to all the care they need, close to home,” he said.
“I’m proud that we’ve delivered the new public aged care facility in Wantirna, that we’re about to start work on a major upgrade of the Angliss and if re-elected we’ll rebuild Maroondah Hospital. It’s absolutely what locals deserve.”
In November 2018 — ahead of the last state election — the Labor Party announced a new emergency department for children at Maroondah Hospital, which was also included in the announcement over the weekend. It has yet to leave the planning phase of development.
