Regional health issues in the spotlight

Hospital services, ambulance ramping, and access to GPs were among the key issues discussed as part of a recent spotlight on health in North East Victoria.

Shadow Assistant Minister for Health, Annabelle Cleeland, The Nationals’ Member for Northern Victoria, Gaelle Broad, and the Shadow Minister for Health, Georgie Crozier, held a series of meetings with senior executives at Bendigo Health, the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, and local GPs.

Ms Cleeland said the day covered a wide range of important issues that were representative of issues being faced by health providers across the region.

“We had a series of very constructive meetings with local health providers, discussing some of the difficulties that our health system is facing – particularly in our regional towns,” Ms Cleeland said.

The wide range of issues included:

• Chronic conditions such as diabetes and obesity and their impact on the health system;
• The need for more housing for NDIS clients;
• Patient transport in the regions;
• The potential expansion of services that pharmacists can provide;
• Wait times to see a GP; and
• Options to encourage more GPs to work in the regions.

“Years of waste, mismanagement, and underinvestment in our health services under Labor have meant too many Victorians suffer tragic health outcomes,” Ms Cleeland said.

“Too many Victorians are waiting too long for to be cared for, particularly in regional areas, and crucial services continue to be cut.

“Just in the past year we’ve seen mental health services been cut from our providers in Broadford, maternity services decrease in Kilmore, Benalla remains without its much-needed dialysis treatment, and patient transport funding is yet to be confirmed.

“Labor’s financial mismanagement is having a direct impact on frontline services and patient outcomes are suffering.

“These conversations reinforced just how vital it is that we secure long-term investment in healthcare infrastructure and frontline services to ensure every person in our region can get the care they need, when they need it.”