The board of an eastern Victorian health service says the state government needs to urgently build a new hospital because its existing facilities are old and no longer fit for service.
The West Gippsland Hospital board said there was not enough capacity at the Warragul hospital.
It says there are frequent issues with the lifts, water damage from roof leaks and busted pipes, corridors that are too narrow, and staff spread out over several buildings.
Board chair Christine Holland said the staff lift was not big enough to fit beds from ED and it was a tight squeeze in the public lift.
"Some of the equipment, and a nurse or a doctor, is all we can actually fit into the [public] lift," Ms Holland said.
"Anything else has to go up the stairs. So it compromises emergency a little. It could compromise it a lot."
The Baw Baw Shire, where the hospital is located, is one of Victoria's fastest-growing regional centres.
The community has long pushed for a new hospital to meet the growing population.
A business case for the project has been put forward to the state government five times and the West Gippsland Healthcare Group bought land for a new hospital about 15 years ago.
But so far, the Victorian government has not decided to fund it.
The Liberal Party has promised to build a new hospital if it is elected in November.
Old infrastructure
Water damage is becoming more frequent at the hospital, which was opened in 1939.
"There are issues with leaking ceilings caused by pipes that rupture, as well as the roof itself not being adequate anymore," Ms Holland said.
Recently, a leak caused part of the ceiling to collapse onto a makeshift storage area, meaning all the supplies there had to be replaced.
Ms Holland said despite the challenges, staff were still providing a good service for the community.
"They're very committed to making sure patient care is excellent and we're very proud of the work they do in the conditions that they're working in," Ms Holland said.
Feeling ignored
Ms Holland has made five written approaches to Mary-Anne Thomas since she took over as Victorian Health Minister almost three months ago — with no response.
"I feel anxious that we're being ignored. I feel anxious that the situation isn't really known. It isn't understood," Ms Holland said.
