MEMBER for Mildura Ali Cupper has given Victoria’s new Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas a list of health priorities for the electorate.
Ms Cupper said that while the region’s broad healthcare needs could not be narrowed down to a singular fix, addressing GP shortages was a key issue.
“I’ve worked with health services and communities right across the electorate,” Ms Cupper said.
“Health challenges vary widely from town to town, and the opportunities extend beyond improvement of our health facilities to also looking at unique and new models of delivering primary and acute care, especially in our smaller communities.
“I’m interested in extended and enhanced roles for paramedics and nurse practitioners, as well as seeing stronger regional partnerships between our larger and smaller hospitals to support the delivery of hospital care.
“Every single community in my electorate is impacted by the GP shortage so I’m also keen to work with Minister Thomas to keep the pressure on the Federal Government to get more GPs out of the cities and into regional areas.”
The list handed to Ms Thomas includes seven key priorities for the Mildura electorate, which include: Finalisation and implementation of the Mildura Base Public Hospital Masterplan; Implementation of the Mildura Drug and Alcohol Detox and Rehabilitation Facility; Master planning support for Robinvale District Health Services; Master planning support for Mallee Track Health and Community Service; Extension of the Advancing Paramedic Roles Implementation Pilot, to address a lack of GP accessibility in small towns; Creation of a new Irymple Ambulance Station; Acquisition of a Complex Patient Ambulance Vehicle (CPAV) for Mildura.
“We’re one of the most remote electorates in the state, and the complexities of health service delivery are magnified due to our isolation,” Ms Cupper said.
“What we need is additional resources and tailored policy solutions to ensure that community needs are met, and I hope this list gives our new Health Minister clear direction about where our health priorities lie.”
