If elected in November, a Matt Guy Liberals and Nationals Government will immediately investigate reprioritising some 250 beds in the Mickleham Quarantine Facility to help address the state's healthcare crisis.
The Mickleham Quarantine Facility is a state-of-the-art $580 million healthcare facility comprising of 1000 beds, but under the Andrews Labor Government it is sitting virtually idle.
According to reports and information obtained under Freedom of Information, the facility costs a staggering $1.5 million per week to operate. Of the 1000 beds in the facility, a mere 34 beds were occupied as of this Friday.
The Liberals and Nationals would immediately explore how the facility can play a temporary but immediate role in alleviating the healthcare crisis in Victoria. The facility is divided into four 'villages' which lends itself to provision of separate and distinct services.
Instead of sitting virtually empty and unused, part of this facility will be used to accommodate low-care needs patients who would prefer to receive their support and treatment away from a busy hospital ward to the facility designed by 'experts in public health and infection control'.
Under this plan, transfer would only occur with the full consent of patients and would be limited to those who no longer require acute hospital care but are awaiting transfer to longer term accommodation and the support of ADF personnel would be sought to help staff and operate this facility.
Leader of the Liberal Party, Matt Guy, said this innovative plan was a real solution to boost capacity across the healthcare system.
"Fixing the health crisis will take innovative, positive solutions - and that is what this plan is all about."
"It makes no sense that Mickleham should sit empty whilst we have a health crisis that is worsening by the day."
"We need to take advantage of this facility which in a short period of time could be used to accommodate hundreds of willing patients who no longer require acute hospital care and would be more comfortable in a setting with full support whilst they await placement into aged care or special accommodation."
Shadow Minister for Health, Georgie Crozier, said the plan was about giving patients choice and supporting additional capacity within the hospital system.
"Many patients awaiting transfer to longer term accommodation would be more comfortable in Mickleham being appropriately supported than remaining in a busy hospital ward."
"This plan is about giving patients choice and being supported whilst they await appropriate accommodation. It's something that could be done immediately to free up some hospital beds and allow more Victorians to be treated in our hospital system."
"Only a Matt Guy Liberals and Nationals Government will deliver real solutions to return confidence in Victoria's health system."
