Loading ...SOME surgeries and staff hours at Portland District Health are still likely to be reduced despite the Federal Government’s back-flip on hospital budget cuts.
Last December, $107 million was cut from Victorian hospital budgets, with $257,000 cut from PDH, $52,000 fromCastertonMemorialHospitaland $33,000 from Heywood Rural Health.
PDH announced it would be forced to drop hip and knee joint replacement between March and July, cancel surgeries for two weeks during the Easter holidays and review pay rates and reduce staff hours.
PDH board of management president, Mike Noske said Wednesday night’s announcement by Health Minister Tanya Plibersek, to restore the $107 million across the state was the right one, but it may have come too late to restore some services.
“I don’t see why the hip and knee joint replacement shouldn’t return but we’re one month out from the two week closure and staff have already made arrangements, it could be very hard to unwind,” Mr Noske said.
“It could end up costing us more than it’s worth if we return the services.”
Read more in Friday’s Portland Observer.
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