Council
25 July, 2024
Rally cry to keep health services local
SOUTH West residents raised their concerns about the state of the health care system at a forum organised by local MPs.
Member for Wannon Dan Tehan and Member for South West Coast Roma Britnell organised the ‘Future of Our Health Forum’ last Tuesday in Warrnambool to hear how cuts in the health care system were impacting local residents.
Shadow Federal Minister for Health and Aged Care Anne Ruston and Victorian Shadow Minister for Health Georgie Crozier attended the forum at the Mozart Hall in Warrnambool.
The forum was reportedly attended by an estimated more than 100 community members, which included local health care professionals including doctors and nurses.
“It’s important as a local MP to listen to the community and learn about the issues that are impacting them, and there can be few issues as important as our health,” Mr Tehan said.
“In Wannon, older residents are struggling to see a doctor with many ending up in regional hospitals, often far from their home due to a lack of staff and acute care services close to where they live.”
Ms Britnell said she was concerned health care services are under “enormous pressure, and we need to work together to protect them”.
“Our current system is heaving under the pressure, and we need a government that supports us rather than cuts funding and threatens mergers,” she said.
“One of the key issues raised was potential amalgamation of the health care services and funding cuts leading to a reduction in services.
“Rural, regional and remote Australians have a higher incidence of cancer and lower survival rates, and a higher prevalence of arthritis, asthma, chronic kidney, obstructive pulmonary, coronary heart, stroke and vascular diseases and diabetes.
“Many of these conditions are preventable yet the frontline workers on preventative healthcare – GPs – number just 2.7 per thousand rural and remote Australians, compared with 4.3 in the cities.”