Member for Shepparton Suzanna Sheed has called for health bonuses to be extended to private hospital staff.
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PAULBOVOLOS
State Member for Shepparton District Suzanna Sheed has asked the Victorian Health Minister if he would consider extending the Healthcare Worker Winter Retention and Surge funding to private healthcare workers as well as those in the public healthcare sector.
The Victorian Government recently announced incentive payments of $3000 for all staff working in public hospitals and ambulance services.
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During a speech in parliament last week, Ms Sheed spoke about the private healthcare workers who were excluded from the incentive, despite their hard work assisting the public health system.
“Throughout the pandemic there has been a partnership between the Victorian Government and private hospitals to assist their local public hospitals by taking public patients, when necessary,” Ms Sheed said.
“This has certainly happened in Shepparton between Goulburn Valley Health and Shepparton Private Hospital.”
Ms Sheed said the private hospitals had assisted the state government get through elective surgery backlogs and their staff are equally deserving of the payment.
“One medical employee said she often worked late or was called back to make sure public patients received the services they need,” Ms Sheed said.
“She did this because she cares about the health of everyone in the community, not whether they are public or private, and feels that it’s been unfair that the $3000 was not extended to them.”
