Victorian Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas has raised concerns about the performance of Mildura Base Public Hospital (MBPH) during a recent parliamentary inquiry. This follows alarming statistics on emergency department wait times and ongoing infrastructure challenges at the hospital.
From January to March 2025, data from the Victorian Agency for Health Information showed that 266 patients at MBPH waited more than 24 hours for emergency treatment. This accounts for 3.28 percent of all patients during that period. The hospital recorded the worst rate of lengthy emergency department stays in the state during February and March, performing more than eight times worse than the statewide average.
To address the issue, the minister extended the appointment of Therese Tierney, a government delegate on the hospital board, from three months to one year. She said this extension was made to ensure that the people of Mildura receive better healthcare services. Additionally, the government announced the opening of four sub-acute beds this week, which will be transferred from the maternity ward to help ease pressure in the emergency department.
Despite these actions, the MBPH board says more support is needed. Board chair Frank Piscioneri stated that the hospital is operating at full capacity and requires expanded infrastructure, including more beds in both the emergency department and inpatient wards. He said that although the board has had several meetings with state officials and ministers, little progress has been made and the need for investment is urgent.
Another major concern is the lack of a publicly released master plan for the hospital’s development. The state government reportedly commissioned a master plan in 2021, but it has not been made available. Health Infrastructure Minister Melissa Horne recently told the inquiry that her department has not been tasked with upgrading the hospital’s emergency department and currently has no access to the services or master plan.
Member for Mildura Jade Benham has demanded that the state government release the master plan and commit to funding 30 new hospital beds. In May, a concept image of a potential new hospital design appeared online, shared by HSPC Health Architects, but the full plan has yet to be officially released.
Health department secretary Jenny Atta stated that no formal or authorized master plan has been issued by the department. She explained that a plan would only be released once an investment decision has been made and updated data could be included in the final document.
As delays in emergency care continue and infrastructure planning remains uncertain, the Mildura community is left waiting for decisive action from the Victorian government. The situation highlights the growing need for investment, improved capacity, and greater transparency in regional healthcare.