Campaigners against a notorious government hospital being run for profit are a step closer in their fight to have the site returned to public control.

Victoria’s Health Minister Jenny Mikakos has not yet ruled out Ramsay Health Care’s recent $13 million bid to continue running Mildura Base Hospital, but has assured the community the future of the operation is being “closely” reviewed.

It comes after an investigation into negligence claims was followed by the release of a state-funded study, which on Tuesday revealed that almost 90 per cent of Mildura residents wanted their only local public hospital fully returned to the control of the state.

The release of the findings was one of the most significant developments in the decades-long fight to return the control of the hospital to the government after it was privatised by Liberal premier Jeff Kennett in 1998.

Ever since Mr Kennett’s government relinquished control of MBH to Australia’s biggest private hospital operator, the political donations made by Ramsay Health Care have amounted to more than $1.44 million.

The Australian Electoral Commission’s financial disclosure returns, totalled by The New Daily, showed that in the 12 financial years between 1998-99 and 2017-18 Ramsay Health Care pledged more than $1.25 million to the Coalition and more than $183,000 to the Labor Party (federal and state branches).

Walter Uhl claims he lost his leg after a foot sore was ignored at Mildura Base Hospital. Photo: Christiane Barro

In February, Premier Daniel Andrews said he was not happy about money being diverted from patient care and he would make concerns over the hospital management his “personal” responsibility.

It came after the Independent Member for Mildura, Ali Cupper, made an emotional maiden speech in Parliament and said Ramsay Health’s recent annual report showed it made a $2.7 million profit from operating MBH.

Days after The New Daily highlighted significant patient and staff concerns about MBH, Ramsay Health publicly unveiled a proposal it made to the Victorian government in January, setting out a $13 million investment in MBH for the next 10 years.

But on Tuesday the state government signalled again the contract is not a done deal, releasing the findings of months of interviews with staff and patients.

“We are now closely considering the findings before making a decision on the hospital’s future,” Ms Mikakos said.

The majority of surveyed locals objected to the privatisation of public health services.

The town’s isolation from other regional centres – compounded by the inability for MBH workers to salary sacrifice – presented barriers in attracting and retaining qualified staff, the survey found.

Access to emergency treatment was deemed the most important health issue in Mildura and surrounding areas, followed by access to specialists and access to general practitioners.

Noel Pound, founder of lobby group Mildura Hospital Conversation,  has urged the Victorian government to put MBH back into public hands “as soon as possible”, saying he is not surprised by the survey’s findings.

“If you talk to anybody about the hospital, it’s all the same story.”

Mr Pound said his lobby group has received complaints about the hospital almost every week for more than four years.

“It’s just been a consistent tale of dissatisfaction with Ramsay Health.”

Ramsay Health’s contract to run MBH expires in 2020, with the Andrews government to announce in October whether it will extend the hospital’s management contract.