Residents are calling for funding to upgrade Daylesford Hospital as they watch other regional hospital projects get major election promises, including a $541-million redevelopment at Ballarat.
Premier Daniel Andrews confirmed the Victorian government has no plans to fund the project ahead of the next election, on the day he toured the Ballarat Base Hospital upgrades.
It has been more than 20 years since the Daylesford Hospital was funded for significant upgrades, with ageing infrastructure creating big operation problems throughout the coronavirus pandemic.
Central Highlands Rural Health released a masterplan for the redevelopment, which is estimated to cost $75 million, in May during the hospital's 160th birthday celebrations.
Community members raised $100,000 in eight weeks to fund the masterplan.
Valued local healthcare
Michelle Clifford, who lives in Daylesford, says her entire family have used the hospital, and she wants to see its future secured.
"I am a single mum on the disability support pension, so being able to stay locally has removed extra financial costs," she said.
"It has given my son [who has undergone several procedures] security, because the staff are local and he knows most of the people who work there.
"My Mum had dementia and was in Daylesford nursing home, so the ability to wheelchair her to the hospital really added to her comfort … going in an ambulance to Ballarat was really distressing to her.
"I have post-traumatic stress syndrome so being able to go locally and have an X-ray or small procedure has allowed me to stay calm and not have panic attacks."
Sally Stagg lives in Musk, 10 minutes out of Daylesford, and says she relies on the hospital for care when experiencing frequent urinary tract infections in her kidney, a serious and painful condition.
Community-driven campaign
The Daylesford Hospital Upgrade Community Campaign Committee was formed in August 2021 and has been leading the charge in calling for an election commitment.
Committee chair Lesley Hewitt, who is also a Hepburn Shire councillor, said she wanted to see a promise from both major parties before the November state election.
"It has meant they have not been able to use the number of beds they have been funded for because it doesn't work for infection control."
Ms Hewitt said the shire's strong tourism numbers added to the case for the upgrades and its population was rising well above predicted growth, up 8.3 per cent in the five years to 2021.
Nearby Trentham has seen nearly 20 per cent population growth in the same period, according to Census data.
"Having a modern hospital in Daylesford servicing the whole of Hepburn Shire will take pressure off Ballarat Base Hospital as well," Ms Hewitt said.
"Health services shouldn't be determined by your postcode."
The Daylesford Hospital masterplan includes new acute wards, maintenance of the heritage building for administration and community rooms, improved community health facilities and aged care upgrades.
The state government provided $4.5 million in funding through the Regional Health Infrastructure Fund in October last year to upgrade the operating theatre.
Ms Hewitt said this was in the pipeline before the masterplan was developed.
No promises yet
Premier Daniel Andrews was asked whether he would commit to funding the redevelopment project during a visit to Ballarat on Friday and answered by referring to Regional Health Infrastructure Fund.
"There are rounds of grants made available each year. One of the reasons we have had so many projects funded is because we have backed this fund properly," he said.
"On that basis I think places like Daylesford and others will be able to, with confidence, apply knowing there is a fund that is specifically for them."
Central Highlands Rural Health confirmed an application has been made to the Regional Health Infrastructure Fund to assist with the planning and design development phase of the project.
The state opposition has promised to fund a number of regional hospital upgrades in the lead up to the election, including St Arnaud, Mildura, Albury/Wodonga and a new hospital for West Gippsland.
New health minister Mary-Anne Thomas is the local member for Macedon which covers the Daylesford area.
