Labor tips $65 million into Gippsland health, but no dough for new Warragul Hospital

On Monday, the state government announced a $65 million investment to upgrade health services in Gippsland. But there was no commitment to finally build Warragul Hospital - which would replace the ageing West Gippsland Hospital in Warragul.

• The funding will primarily be spent on improving West Gippsland and Wonthaggi hospitals.

At West Gippsland Hospital and the nearby Cooinda Lodge aged care facility, the investment will pay for infrastructure upgrades.

At Wonthaggi Hospital, the upgrades will include a new pharmacy, pathology clinic and medical imaging suite.

• Wonthaggi Hospital underwent a $115 million redevelopment, which was completed in November 2022. Those upgrades delivered new operating theatres, a procedure room, emergency department and inpatient ward.

Other projects

The latest $65 million will help fund upgrades to Latrobe Regional Hospital, new ambulance stations in Traralgon, Moe, Warragul and Morwell, and the expansion of the Phillip Island Community Hospital.

• The first stage of the Phillip Island Community Hospital in Cowes opened in June last year with an urgent care centre, which offers after-hour care for minor, non-emergency injuries.

• The second stage of the project aims to deliver chemotherapy, dialysis, dental and day surgery services.

The West Gippsland Healthcare Group purchased land for a new West Gippsland hospital in Drouin East 18 years ago. 

In 2022, then premier Daniel Andrews pledged $675 million to build the new facility, exceeding the $600 million commitment by the opposition.

Andrews said at the time that construction would begin in 2024 and the hospital would likely be completed by 2028.

Since then, there has been no major budget allocation for the project.