Unbelievable. Why isnt this in the local media? Dont get sick in the west.

If this is half true then the community should call for an investigation.

A second rate response to a first class crisis at our Western Hospitals in Sunshine and Footscray.

No real relief for underfunded underequipped and understaffed services in the community of highest need. Just another flash building with nowhere near enough money for the health services inside it.

Our health service is fast becoming third world while Bracks dithers and hordes the sheckles for no good reason.

Marginal seat funding rules again and we suffer long term.



http://www.theage.com.au/news/vicelection06news/bracks-vows-14bn-hospital-boost/2006/11/02/1162339955946.html

Hospitals in $1.4bn boost


November 2, 2006 - 11:57AM

A re-elected Victorian Labor government will spend $1.4 billion upgrading hospitals and health services, including two new dedicated elective surgery centres.

Premier Steve Bracks today said the massive health injection would include $476 million to boost emergency departments across the state to treat an extra 377,000 patients.

It also includes $115 million to perform 16,000 more operations through two new dedicated elective surgery centres at St Vincent's and Austin hospitals, and expanded capacity at suburban and regional hospitals.

Victorian Liberal Leader Ted Baillieu immediately criticised the pledge, saying Labor had taken too long to recognise there were significant problems in the health system.

New elective surgery centres

Announcing the policy at the Sunshine Hospital, Mr Bracks said the new elective surgery centres would separate surgery from emergency departments.

"This plan means surgery patients booked in at the centres will be protected from having their operations cancelled if an emergency patient needs urgent treatment,'' he said.

The health package also includes $184 million to expand Sunshine Hospital, providing 64 extra beds and a radiotherapy facility.

An additional $350 million would be used to expand maternity capacity, boost dialysis and cancer services and invest in new medical technology, Mr Bracks said.

Bid to hire 1000 nurses, doctors

Other major items in the policy include $45 million to build the next stage of the Frankston Hospital redevelopment, $25 million to complete the rebuilding of Dandenong Hospital and $15 million to build a new day hospital at Sunbury.

The plan also promises to employ an extra 1000 nurses, doctors and health workers each year, and $24.8 million over four years to grow the Metropolitan Health Service.

"Labor is investing in the health services that matter to Victorian families,'' Mr Bracks said.

"We have done a lot to turn around the health system and get waiting lists to an eight-year low but we know there's a lot more to do.''

Problems 'finally dawned on' Labor

Mr Baillieu said the opposition had identified the problems with the health system day after day in parliament, including long waiting lists, but they were ridiculed by the Bracks government.

"It seems it's finally dawned on them there is a problem in the health system,'' he said.

By contrast, Labor had done nothing over the past few years to address the problem, he said.

"We have been leading and the government has been following on all these issues.''

Why do we need all this
when Bracks has been
telling us that everything
is OK
and now we can see all
the bull###t that they have
been feeding the people
of Victoria
:sick:

Natty's back in the news this week, in her daddy's newpaper The Advocate.

Here she is talking about the insufficient $184million State Government "pledge" for Sunshine hospital:

"This is a prompt and impressive response by the premier to a letter I sent him recently..."

Not bad eh? Natty writes, and Steve jumps. You wonder why she waited 10 years to do it. Or maybe you don't wonder at all, maybe you think like I do, that it's all just more bullshit.

To back up my opinion on it, the Advocate also has Natty on p17 talking about public transport:

"Councillor Suleyman called on both parties [Lib and Lab] to commit themselves to extending zone 1 on the Sydenham line."

So far, neither Steve nor Ted have jumped, showing that you can only stretch a ratepayer's credibility so far.

Of course, if Natty is writing to Steve about the hospital, you can bet Steve is writing to Natty about the Gambling machines. Put more of 'em in Brimbank Natty, he writes, more gambling machines, not less.

Keep it up guys. Let's see if the voters don't think you are a couple of wayward nongs.

Having worked in Acute Health for over 20 years and having managed hundreds of millions of dollars in capital works, I can confirm your cynicism.

Money is not given to major public hospitals, for any purpose, based on submissions from Local Government.

More lies!

The other lie being spread is that Bruce had something to do with getting more nurses into Sunshine Hospital.. he claims it in his letter to voters. There are more nurses in public hospitals because the Government (employer) LOST a case in the IR Court a few years ago that introduced nurseatient ratios.

To keep beds open, more nurses had to be recruited (mind you there weren't all that many nurses just sitting out there so most of them were recruited from other parts of the system and interstate).

When the Government (employer) WINS its case to remove nurseatient ratios, will they claim credit for lowering the number of nurses in public hospitals?

Councils and local MPs play ZERO part in determing State Government Health Policy and Funding Priority. Anyone that tells you different is a liar.

If you read from the beginning of this thread, it should be clear that the funding was announced to avert a major scandal on the eve of an election.

My opinion? They had already decided to give the money away to another hospital, then changed their minds at the last minute.

That's why all the bullshit from Natalie in (ahem) The Advocate.

The Brimbank Council got the word that the Sunshine Hospital was going to be on the Labor Financial Statement (LFS) for the election.

Since then the Council have been posing as community advocates by writing bulldust letters to the Bracks government about fixing Sunshine Hospital. All in the last few weeks with nothing beforehand when the crisis was fullblown!! The Council didnt have a clue about what was needed at the Hospital.

Nat's comments are on the money though.

Bracks has offered $184M at Sunshine when $1.2B is needed to fix the infrastructure problems across campuses.

Service funding remains inadequate. This underfunding and inadequate rostering is breaking staff morale and causing major recruitment and retention issues.

Just ask the staff and unions. Sunshine Hospital is in crisis and staff patients and the community are suffering as a result.

Ratty wrote:
Natty's back in the news this week, in her daddy's newpaper The Advocate.

Here she is talking about the insufficient $184million State Government "pledge" for Sunshine hospital:

"This is a prompt and impressive response by the premier to a letter I sent him recently..."



Pull the other one Natalie. It whistles dixie.

Deserted by the ALP wrote:

Councils and local MPs play ZERO part in determing State Government Health Policy and Funding Priority. Anyone that tells you different is a liar.

Absolutely 100% correct Deserted by the ALP.

The Ombudsman must be requested to investigate this highly deceptive and unethical behaviour by the Mayor. The pattern continues.

Ratty wrote:

Here she is talking about the insufficient $184million State Government "pledge" for Sunshine hospital:

"This is a prompt and impressive response by the premier to a letter I sent him recently..."



Complete and utter garbage.

This is a disgraceful way for a mayor to act. Unfortunately it seems normal for Natalie Suleyman. Who does she think she is?

Ratty wrote:
Natty's back in the news this week, in her daddy's newpaper The Advocate.

Here she is talking about the insufficient $184million State Government "pledge" for Sunshine hospital:

"This is a prompt and impressive response by the premier to a letter I sent him recently..."

Not bad eh? Natty writes, and Steve jumps. You wonder why she waited 10 years to do it. Or maybe you don't wonder at all, maybe you think like I do, that it's all just more bullshit.

To back up my opinion on it, the Advocate also has Natty on p17 talking about public transport:

"Councillor Suleyman called on both parties [Lib and Lab] to commit themselves to extending zone 1 on the Sydenham line."


Ah, the Advocate - and check out who the articles repeatedly tying in Natalie with the feel good announcements are written by.

Forever more to be known as "Suleyman's Scribe."

BCC Bulldust wrote:


Bracks has offered $184M at Sunshine when $1.2B is needed to fix the infrastructure problems across campuses.

Service funding remains inadequate. This underfunding and inadequate rostering is breaking staff morale and causing major recruitment and retention issues.

Just ask the staff and unions. Sunshine Hospital is in crisis and staff patients and the community are suffering as a result.


Kenneth Davidson is right when he says the Bracks government is running a lazy balance sheet.
http://www.theage.com.au/news/business/debt-structure-is-having-a-lend-of-us/2006/11/06/1162661618002.html

The impact on Sunshine residents and staff from this completely inadequate infrastructure investment in Western Health is ongoing crisis.

For what purpose? It does no-one any good.

In the UK the government splits its budget into
1. current account and
2. capital account.

Debt is not a problem when the right parameters exist.

We badly need these sorts of changes in Victoria otherwise our community will be stuck in its ongoing infrastructure and liveability nightmare.

The way I heard it was some
months ago state labor was
saying that they were going
to spend big money at the
Sunshine hospital
I thought them well if it is
a need ,then yes they should
Then about three weeks later
at a council meeting Troy A
called on the council to write
to Bracks requesting upgrades
I laughed to my self saying here
we go trying to jump on the band
wagon for newspaper head lines
when state govt have let it be known
and yes Nat say she is the hero
Bull#hit Bull#hit Nat :ohmy:

Is there no end to Nats talent. Now she is the Health Minister???
She needs to look in her own back yard and sort the problems Kenny has....... It won't be long can't hide it forever.

Ratty wrote:


"This is a prompt and impressive response by the premier to a letter I sent him recently..."



I knew it. I just knew it. Saw the Brimbank Leader and there's no mention of Natalie, in their article on the Sunshine hospital. No mention at all.

What kind of idiot must Natty be, to think people will swallow this tripe from her? What kind of a stooge paper is the Advocate to print it without comment?

The Advocate continues to lose credibility as a local newspaper by publishing rubbish that isnt good enough for a fish n chip wrap. Does the editor think we are gullible morons?

Steve Stacks agrees to fund upgrade to Sunshine Hospital as a result of letter written by Mare ?



STOP IT OUR YOU'LL GO BLIND !

Nat has her hand on it wrote:
Steve Stacks agrees to fund upgrade to Sunshine Hospital as a result of letter written by Mare ?



STOP IT OUR YOU'LL GO BLIND !

Well that is the impression Mike Austen has tried very hard to create. Must be near retirement time.