Cleeland demands urgent EMR funding for Hume health services

The Hume region has been left behind when it comes to modern healthcare technology, with The Nationals’ Member for Euroa, Annabelle Cleeland, calling on the Allan Labor Government to urgently fund an Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system across regional health services.

Ms Cleeland has written to the Victorian Minister for Health after multiple health service CEOs warned the Hume region is now the only region in Victoria without a funded Electronic Medical Record system.

“Regional patients deserve the same standard of healthcare as those in Melbourne,” Ms Cleeland said.

“It is unacceptable that every other region in Victoria, along with health services across New South Wales, has access to modern Electronic Medical Record systems while the Hume region continues to fall behind.”

Health leaders across the region have warned that continuing to rely on fragmented and largely manual systems creates risks for patient safety, continuity of care and the overall patient experience.

Ms Cleeland said the concerns raised by health services showed the issue could no longer be ignored.

“An Electronic Medical Record system is not a luxury. It is essential infrastructure for a modern health system,” she said.

“It allows clinicians to access real-time patient information, improves decision-making and helps reduce avoidable clinical risks.

“Patients should not have to repeat the same information over and over because regional health systems are outdated and disconnected.”

Ms Cleeland said the Allan Labor Government’s failure to fund the rollout in the recent State Budget was another example of regional Victoria being overlooked.

“Our region already faces workforce shortages and increasing pressure on health services. Failing to invest in this technology only widens the gap between metropolitan and regional healthcare,”

she said.

“The planning work has been done by local health services. What they need now is a funding commitment from the State Government.”

Ms Cleeland said she would continue advocating for the rollout alongside other critical regional health priorities, including maternity services, additional dialysis support at Benalla Health and the establishment of a Mental Health Local within the electorate.

“People in regional Victoria should not receive a lower standard of healthcare simply because of where they live,” she said.