WIMMERA hospitals have missed infrastructure funding under the State Government's budget announced yesterday.
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Rural Northwest Health chief executive Catherine Morley-Nelson said the service was very disappointed in the budget.
The service had pleaded publicly with the State Government through stories in the Mail-Times for funding to finish stage two of infrastructure works at its Warracknabeal site.
But Ms Morley-Nelson said the service was informed yesterday it had been unsuccessful in its quest for funding.
"We had 668 signatures and we continued to be optimistic that we might get the funding for stage two," she said.
"We have been notified we were unsuccessful for this year's budget, but were encouraged to review our service planning requirements and resubmit next year."
She said the lack of funding was another blow to the struggling regional health service.
"This means stage two has been sitting here waiting to get completed for four years," she said.
"We are disappointed but we will continue to investigate other options to see whether we can get other parts funded through capital grants.
"We will continue to provide the best service we can with the limited resources we have."
Ms Morley-Nelson said completion of stage two at Warracknabeal Hospital would enhance the community health building and allow the service to be operationally under one building on the site.
Wimmera Health Care Group chief executive Chris Scott said he was unaware of any infrastructure capital spending from the budget being directed to the Wimmera.
"We have been pushing for a number of things, for a medical clinic and for a review of our infrastructure capital needs in relation to nursing home facilities," Mr Scott said.
"But clearly they are not a high priority. We have had no contact from the government, we are a bit disappointed the budget has not delivered any tangible outcomes for the Wimmera.
"But it depends again on the detail and we will need to see what dollars have been put into the bottom line of the budget."
Victorian Treasurer John Lenders announced a $4-billion boost to the state's hospitals and health system in yesterday's budget.
