Hospital emergency department wait times will be slashed statewide in major hospitals under a $1.5 billion election pledge.
Victorian Premier Ben Carroll will hit the road on day one aboard Labor’s campaign bus before making an announcement to cut wait times at 12 hospital emergency departments by up to 25 per cent.
The party is chasing a historic victory, attempting to secure a fourth consecutive term at the November 28 election.
Labor's love affair with bus tours as part of election campaigns dates back half a century to Paul Keating's famous jaunt in 1969, and Mr Carroll's latest road trip is no exception.
Under a re-elected government, multiple emergency departments will be expanded including at the Bendigo, Footscray, Wonthaggi, Ballarat Base and Austin hospitals.
The 12 chosen have an overall average wait time above the state average, according to the government.
There are also plans to hire 1500 health workers, including an extra 750 nurses.
At least 250 more beds will be made available under the plan.
“We’ve waited in an ED with our daughter many times - nothing’s more stressful," Mr Carroll said.
“Nurses make our hospitals tick and we’ll hire more of them so you’re seen sooner.”
The $1.5 billion investment will reduce wait times across their emergency departments by up to 25 per cent, according to government estimates.
Remaining hospitals to be expanded include the Alfred, Latrobe Regional, Royal Children’s, Shepparton, Swan Hill, Werribee Mercy and University Hospital Geelong.
The move comes as Labor continues to trail the coalition in the polls.
Its primary vote remains steady at 25 per cent, according to the latest Resolve Political Monitor conducted in October and published by Nine newspapers.
Primary support for the coalition pushed up one point to 28 per cent. One Nation was steady at 23 per cent, with the Greens at 15 and independents at nine.
Victoria's opposition committed almost $100 million in election pledges in October to shorten emergency department wait times and reduce ambulance ramping.
Opposition Leader Jess Wilson committed to 10 new or expanded patient transit lounges in hospitals to divert patients medically ready to leave.
About 30 per cent of Victorians who present to emergency departments are not seen within the recommended time, the latest quarterly statistics from the state's health department show.
The $99 million Patient Transit Lounge Fund would prioritise locations with the worst overcrowding and most severe ambulance ramping.
Locations include Royal Melbourne Hospital in Parkville, Footscray Hospital, University Hospital Geelong, Latrobe Regional Hospital and Goulburn Valley Health in Shepparton.
Labor's health pledge comes just days after a last-minute deal with doctors across Victoria on Tuesday.
Doctors at Victorian public hospitals were due to stop work on Wednesday.
However, they cancelled the planned action after agreeing to the 12-month interim deal.
