Stefan Bradley and Tom Parry
IN a win for local aged care, the State Budget 2023-24 confirmed an election promise by the state government to upgrade the Maffra District Hospital.
Budget papers indicate that the government will replace the JHF McDonald Wing and Residential Aged Care Wing of Maffra District Hospital with a new 30-bed facility as part of the Rural and Regional Public Sector Residential Aged Care Services (PSRACS) Revitalisation Strategy.
The upgrade was a pre-election pledge by Premier Daniel Andrews, as reported by the Gippsland Times in October last year; up to $70 million has been earmarked for the project. This money will also go towards refurbishment of the existing aged care facility for hospital use.
Other hospitals set to benefit elsewhere in the state include the Cohuna District Hospital and Numurkah Hospital. Total cost for all three projects is listed as $162 million – less than the $170 million in the original announcement.
According to the government, these upgrades intend to provide communities with access to modern facilities that can support residents with complex care needs such as dementia, while also giving them privacy and independence.
