Nationals Member for Euroa Annabelle Cleeland has called for the Government to avoid making cuts to regional health services after recent data showed massive deficits across Victorian public hospitals.
The data showed that as of January this year, 41 of Victoria’s 75 health services did not meet the industry benchmark for operating expenses, while hospitals in the state had amassed a record $1.5 billion deficit.
With the budget announcement nearing, Ms Cleeland said it was imperative that the Government did not cut funding from regional health services, many of which were already under pressure.
“Hospitals across the region have already reached out to me saying they are concerned about potential cuts to their funding in the upcoming budget,” Ms Cleeland said.
“Many have stated that they are already being told to cut services and staff, despite operating with healthy reserves.
“To me, it seems like this Government is now suggesting further cuts to regional health services in order to compensate for the overspending in Melbourne.”
Ms Cleeland raised the issue during the most recent sitting of Parliament, stressing the need for funding security in regional communities.
“Health services within my electorate of Euroa already continue to lag behind those found in the rest of the state, with significantly delayed ambulance response times, out of control GP wait lists, and a general lack of resourcing,” Ms Cleeland.
“The last thing they need is further cuts.”
Ambulance response times in the region were raised as an area of particular concern.
For life threatening cases, the statewide median response time is just under 9 minutes.
Meanwhile, in both the Benalla and Mitchell local government areas you can expect to wait at least 50 per cent longer with median response times of 14 minutes.
“These extra minutes of waiting for urgent support feel like an eternity during an emergency, and they can truly be the difference between life and death,” Ms Cleeland said.
During her speech, Ms Cleeland also pointed out the lack of resources provided to healthcare providers across the region.
“Benalla is without a dialysis facility despite frequent appeals to this government, Nexus in Kilmore is dependent on community funding, maternity facilities in Heathcote are non-existent, urgent care beds in Seymour are under threat, and the closest PET scan machine is in the next electorate,” Ms Cleeland said.
“The lack of investment in our region has made it increasingly difficult for people to access reliable health services in their own community.”
