General News
10 July, 2024
MP pleads for support on petition over cuts
Member for Lowan Emma Kealy is pleading with constituents to put their names to a petition against looming changes to health care across the region.
Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas has confirmed that at least 20 health services in Victoria will have their funding slashed - reportedly by up to 30 per cent - while speculation continues to mount over a potential merger of the state's health services.
Ms Kealy said she hoped residents would call on the government to "keep its hands off regional hospitals and drop plans for mega-mergers".
The online petition was unveiled last week.
Speaking in Parliament, Ms Kealy said the creation of Grampians Health, which merged four health services in Lowan, had already led to cuts to vital programs including cancelling the Edenhope dental service and reducing Horsham’s community rehabilitation exercise program.
She said she was aware of more hospitals in Lowan that would be affected by the latest round of cuts, leaving "management desperately trying to work out how they'll make the required savings".
"It will either mean job cuts or services reductions, and most likely both,” Ms Kealy said.
“Our local emergency departments are already struggling to meet demand and in many cases failing to meet key performance targets, and the idea that reducing funding would have anything other than a detrimental impact is insulting."
To support Ms Kealy's Hands Off Our Hospitals campaign visit www.handsoffourhospitals.com.au.