IT will take several weeks for Djerriwarrh Health Services to return to full capacity after a federal government backflip over funding cuts.
Bacchus Marsh and Melton Regional Hospital will receive $386,000 directly from the government after earlier being forced to trim services when the cash was stripped from its budget.
It estimated more than 200 local patients would be forced to wait longer for elective surgery, with in-patient bed closures and operating theatre capacity reductions set from March 29 to April 14.
Hospital chief executive Bruce Marshall said things would soon return to normal.
“With the budget cut returned, we will be able to undo the cost-saving strategy and get on with treating patients,” he said.
But Mr Marshall was unsure how funding would be returned and what aspects of the hospital’s cost-saving strategies could be undone at such short notice.
“Fortunately our health service has been ahead on elective surgery at this stage of the year.”
Liberal candidate for Ballarat John Fitzgibbon said the federal government had admitted it was responsible for the “blame game” by reinstating the funds.
“It’s only when Labor has realised that they will lose votes over this that they are now trying to buy back support,” he said.
Ballarat Labor MP Catherine King called on the state government to reinstate $616 million she said it had cut from its health budget.
