Victoria’s failing ambulance system continues to spiral, as reports emerge of regional patients being left stranded at metropolitan hospitals without a way home.
These reports follow proposed changes to Ambulance Victoria patient transport service criteria that have left community members worried about the cost of accessing much needed medical services.
As of September 30, the tighter restrictions will see hundreds left without important transport and taxi aid to access medical appointments and treatments.
The Nationals’ Member for Euroa, Annabelle Cleeland, who is also Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Health, expressed her alarm at the news, stating that the increasing centralisation of health services will make it prohibitively expensive to access healthcare in regional Victoria.
“With the cuts to health services and risk of mergers, patients are now facing an even more difficult future getting to and from crucial medical appointments,” Ms Cleeland said.
“This will impact hundreds across our region, forcing several of our most vulnerable residents to pay prohibitive amounts to access healthcare.
“We are already hearing stories of patients being taken in ambulances to metropolitan hospitals far away from their homes without a way to get home due to a lack of patient transport options.
“The only option many of these people have is to spend hundreds of dollars on taxis, something that is simply untenable for the vast majority of people.”
Ms Cleeland said that a lack of support had been provided to patient transport and ambulance services across the state.
“Patient transport services have been neglected by this government, with local services like the Royal Flying Doctors community transport team in Heathcote sharing their need for more funding to deliver locals to their healthcare appointments,” Ms Cleeland said.
“Labor cannot manage money, and unfortunately it is sick Victorians that are left paying the price.”
