PRIME MINISTER
CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY EMBARGOED) UNTIL DELIVERY
OPENING OF NEW RADIOLOGY DEPARTMENT AND REFURBISHED WARD
AT REPATrRIATION GENFRXM, HOSPITAL HEIDELBERG, VICTORIA
29 AUGUST 1985
Senator Gietzelt, ( representative of the Victorian
Government), representatives of ex-service
organisations, ladies and gentlemen.
It gives me considerable pleasure to be here today on
the occasion of the official opening of two much needed
improvements to the range of facilities available at the
Repatriation General Hospital, Heidelberg.
This occasion is a special " double" for it is the second
time this month that I have been able to perform such a
function at a Repatriation General Hospital. At the
beginning of this month, I opened the new surgical
operating suites at Daw Park, South Australia. Today it
is the new radiological Department and the refurbished
Ward 8 here at Heidelberg.
it is no coincidence that these two events have occurred
so close together in time. Since it came to office in
March 1983, the Australian Laibor Government has given a
very high priority to refurbishment and construction
work throughout the Repatriation General Hospital
network in Australia.
Since 1982/ 83 spending on Repatriation hospitals has
increased by almost $ 76 million ( or 35 per cent). The
recent Budget increased spending on these hospitals by
$ 19.8 million including a 78.6 per cent increase in
spending on specialised equipment such as the digital
subtraction unit.
Also approved for Heidelberg in the Budget brought down
last week were:
$ 3.5 million for a new outpatients department;
$ 2.0 million for a psychogeriatric unit;
$ 7.1 million for a new building to replace six
original pavililon wards;
more than $ 500,000 for other works.
This burst of activity in the Repatriation General
Hospital system was occasioned by the need to do
something, and do it urgently, to overcome the years of
neglect which had left staffing levels inadequate,
morale low, and a poor standard of equiipment and
facilities.
Among early action taken by the Minister for Veterans
Affairs was his commissioning of a review of the
Repatriation Hospital system by a committee led by
Doctor Ian Brand. That committee's report has now been
received and its wide-ranging recommendations warrant,
and will receive, careful consideration by the Minister
and the Government.
They will be addressed against the background of the
commitment I gave in the national policy speech before
last year's election " to continue upgrading repatriation
hospitals to meet the needs of an ageing veterans
community." That was a firm, unequivocal pledge and one
which, as the 1985 Budget clearly shows, we are intent
on implementing.
One of the key issues to be addresscd, of course, is the
Brand Review's comments on the inevitability of the
integration of the Repatriation General Hospital system
with the State health systems to ensure that the very
best care is available to what is an ageing Veteran
community. Clearly what is needed is careful planning
for this eventuality. What must be uppermost in our
minds, especially with an ageing veteran population, is
that every effort be made to provide services, including
hospital services, closer to home.
Ladies and Gentlemen, that said, I can assure you that
there will continue to be Repatriation Hospitals
operating as an important and visible element in the
overall treatment system for Veterans and war widows for
many years to come.
I know that many of you have a keen interest in the
3
Veterans' Entitlements Bill which will be presented to
the Parliament next month. There has been a great deal
of work on the Bill since it was first tabled for
discussion. Comments and suggestions from the exservice
community have been considered and where
appropriate incorporated in redirafting.
There can be no suggestion that there has not been
consultation or co-operation. In the history of the
Repatriation system ~ there has never been such
consultatiopi on legislative changes. In this regard, I
should particularly like to pay tribute to the
constructive, very helpful role played by the RSL's
National President Sir William Keys.
Ladies and. gentlemen, on this important day in the
history of this Repatriation General Hospital, I could
not conclude without expressing my thanks to all
concerned at Heidelberg for their work in providing care
to our Veteran community; particularly the visiting
Medical officers, the Visiting Medical Specialists and
the staff doctors, nurses, allied health
professionals, ward staff, orderlies and domestic
services staff and clinical teams.
You are responsible for running a major hospital which
handles 15,000 inpatients and about 180,000 outpatients
a year. While your prime responsibility is Victoria' s
Veteran community, you also have a much wider community
role, witnessed by the wide-ranging nature of the
gathering here today.
The work you do is important and is appreciated not only
by your patients, but also by the community at large. I
should expect that the facilities I shall now proceed to
open will make your task easier and more satisfying.
They certainly add a further dimension to the services
provided by this important hospital.