Labor pledges $1.5bn to cut hospital emergency waits

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 24 Oct, 18:32 · Archive

Victorian Labor pledges $1.5 billion to cut emergency department wait times at 12 major hospitals by up to 25 per cent ahead of the 28 November election.

Victorian Premier Ben Carroll will launch Labor's election campaign from a bus with a $1.5 billion pledge to cut emergency department wait times at 12 major hospitals by up to 25 per cent ahead of the 28 November election. The party is attempting to secure a historic fourth consecutive term.

The investment includes hiring 1,500 health workers, with an extra 750 nurses, and providing at least 250 additional beds. The 12 hospitals targeted have average wait times above the state average. Emergency departments will be expanded at Bendigo, Footscray, Wonthaggi, Ballarat Base and Austin hospitals, with further expansion planned at the Alfred, Latrobe Regional, Royal Children's, Shepparton, Swan Hill, Werribee Mercy and University Hospital Geelong.

Premier Carroll said: 'Nurses make our hospitals tick and we'll hire more of them so you're seen sooner.' The announcement comes as Labor trails the coalition in polling, with Labor's primary vote at 25 per cent and the coalition's at 28 per cent according to an October Resolve Political Monitor.

How it is being reported

• Election bus hits the road with major hospital pledgeLabor's bus will hit the road on day one of a state election campaign, with a $1.5 billion pledge to cut emergency department wait times in hospitals.The West Australian · 24 Oct, 18:02
• Election bus hits the road with major hospital pledgeLabor's bus will hit the road on day one of a state election campaign, with a $1.5 billion pledge to cut emergency department wait times in hospitals.Perth Now · 24 Oct, 18:02

In this story: Ben Carroll · Labor · Victoria

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