But a reported mechanical issue at Horsham has shifted the laundry service to Ballarat in recent weeks.
Member for Lowan Emma Kealy speculated the move could see laundry services permanently relocated to Ballarat against the community’s wishes.
But a Grampians Health spokesperson said plans were for the service to return to Horsham.
“Grampians Health has put in place temporary measures to ensure uninterrupted service delivery for our community following the breakdown of some equipment at our laundry plant in Horsham,” the spokesperson said.
“Our linen team has been kept informed with some team members temporarily adjusting their work routines including travelling to Ballarat.
“We thank our linen team for their incredible hard work. We especially appreciate those team members who have adapted their work routines to meet the needs of our community during this time.”
Embattled
Grampians Health has emerged at the centre of a stoush between the State Government and opposition, which claims the health service is facing a $46-million operating deficit.
Shadow health minister Georgie Crozier last month slammed the government for what she termed ‘financial mismanagement’ after it emerged that 52 of Victoria’s 68 health services had recorded deficits in their 2023-24 annual reports.
Grampians Health was one of the worst-affected regional health services, with a reported deficit of $46,870,000 last financial year.
Ms Crozier said across Victoria, the collective deficit of health services totalled more than $1-billion.
A State Government spokesperson said the COVID-19 pandemic had strained healthcare systems across the world and healthcare costs had, on average, increased by 9.8 per cent yearly for the past five years.
They said a $21-billion package for hospitals in this year’s state budget was intended to help address the problem. The spokesperson said the operating deficit had no impact on Grampians Health’s ability to deliver care and that no patient would be compromised, but some community members contradicted the claims.
Talkback
Callers to radio presenter Jacqui Felgate’s 3AW Drive program last month shared stories of understaffing and overcrowding at the Horsham hospital.
One man said his mother, who had chronic health issues, was required to share a room with a dementia patient.
“Firstly, I’d like to compliment the staff up there. They all appear to be doing a fantastic job under very challenging circumstances, so this is not directed at the staff at all,” he said.
“It’s more about the lack of infrastructure and space there. Mum was in the emergency room the other night and when she woke up throughout the night there was a gentleman sleeping on a mattress out in the hallway.
“They obviously don’t have a separate dementia ward, and there was a gentleman suffering from dementia who was just wandering around ER.
“It is obviously a very challenging place to work, and speaking off the record to a number of staff up there, it’s a stressful place to be.”
Another caller, who said he had worked at the Horsham hospital a decade ago and then more recently, had noticed a difference in the level of service.
“I think the main problem with these hospitals – and I’ve worked at a few similar hospitals in Victoria and also interstate – is there is excessive administration staff and excessive governance, and they tend to take up lots of resources, time and also physical space” he said.
“When I was there last year I found that there were rooms that were normally for patients that had been given over to various staff, for example liaison officers and people who don’t do any medical work. This puts pressure on the hospital.”
A Grampians Health spokesperson said the service was working with the Department of Health ‘to utilise resources efficiently and deliver positive health outcomes for our communities’.
“Over the past few years, we have been successful in improving access to care, particularly in the regional locations, and we are committed to further enhancing them for the betterment of our communities,” they said.
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