Critically ill patients are being denied a hospital bed and waiting lists for public surgery continue to rise as the Victorian government sits on its hands, according to the Member for Benambra, Bill Tilley.

On Tuesday afternoon, Mr Tilley (pictured outside Wodonga Hospital), called on the Minister for Health to explain the backflip on plans to use 20 beds at Mercy Health as a safety valve to the critical shortage.

It comes just days after Emergency Departments at Albury Wodonga Health were overwhelmed – at one point 50 beds short of what was needed.

Papers obtained from a NSW Parliament Upper House documents motion show Victoria Health seeking NSW’s support for leasing the beds at the nearby Mercy on 19 December, 2023.

The proposal would relocate low risk patients to allow access to more beds.

Mr Tilley said massive delays in public surgery and ambulance ramping was a direct result of the lack of beds.

“I’ve have been telling the Minister for some time that while the Hospital makeover at Albury is one thing, there’s an immediate need for beds,” he said.

“The Border Medical Association identified that the lack of beds was limiting public surgery, as did the Victorian Health department.

“We have 2,299 people on the Category 3 waiting list, 50 more than three months ago and second only to The Austin as a general hospital.

“Ambulances are stuck at the hospital for hours on end because they can’t find a bed.”

Mr Tilley said the Minister must explain why this has been dumped.

“It was costed at $20.8 million over three years, supported by Albury Wodonga Health and studies done to ensure this was feasible,” he said.

“Was it NSW, was it Victoria or have they just run out of money?”

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This article appeared in the  Corryong Courier, 15 August 2024.