mmg.com.au

Echuca Regional Health will not lose jobs as a result of recent funding cuts.

Last week there were reports some Victorian hospitals would cut jobs and close beds to cope with federal funding reductions.

ERH chief executive Michael Delahunty said the hospital would not sack anyone, though there would be an employment freeze.

He said as well as no new positions, if a staff member retired they would not be replaced.

The hospital’s usual scheduled low-activity period was extended for another week to factor in more than $400,000 worth of cuts to this year’s hospital budget.

There will be no elective surgery this week and some staff will remain on leave.

While the Victorian Government has blamed the Federal Government for reducing funding for hospitals, Federal Health Minister Tanya Plibersek has pointed the finger at the state government.

A spokesperson for Tanya Plibersek said the Federal Government was actually increasing funding for Victoria, with health funding to increase by 26 per cent over the next four years.

But when the Victorian Health Minister David Davis visited Echuca hospital recently, he said the reduced funding was totally attributable to Federal cuts to health funding.

Mr Davis described the reduction of the funding pool as unjustified and unprecedented.

‘‘To do those cuts in the middle of the year means that the impact on hospitals and health services will be amplified and the impact on patients will be increased,’’ he said.