Friday, 5 October 2007

NATIONALS TO LOBBY MINISTER ON HEALTH ISSUES

Nationals Health Spokesperson, Hugh Delahunty, will lobby the Minister for Health, Daniel Andrews on a series of critical issues impacting on the hospitals, community health services and aged care following a tour of North East Victorian hospitals with local Nationals MP, Bill Sykes.

Mr Delahunty and Dr Sykes visited Nagambie, Euroa, Mansfield, Bright and Benalla to speak with hospital Chief Executive Officers (CEO’s) and hospital board members on issues such as funding, capital works, recruitment of staff, cost/service impacts of Government policies and work place agreements.

Dr Sykes said, “Generally, the standard of health and aged care services in North East Victoria are very good. This is due, in no small way, to the sound administration by hospital CEO’s and hospital board members and the dedication of staff and local GP’s.

“That said, each hospital has its own issues on which Mr Delahunty and I will lobby the Minister for Health.

“At Nagambie Hospital we met recently appointed CEO, Amanda Fieldhouse, hospital board members, Dr Graeme Ratten (Chair), Margaret Moss and Valda Klaric.

“A significant concern is the continuity of GP services with the hospital continuing to explore options such as provision of consulting rooms to attract GPs and other health professionals.

“There is also a need for a community health centre to provide coordinated health service delivery locally rather than people having to travel to Shepparton or Seymour.

“An exciting new proposal is the possible development of six independent living units to complement the existing excellent aged care facilities.”

“At Mansfield District Hospital we met CEO Janene Ridley, board members, Tony Tehan, Michael Nolan & Mike Irwin.

“Mansfield District Hospital is budgeting for a significant operating deficit this year.

“This problem has arisen as a result of increased demand for services (eg obstetrics, with births up from 65 a couple of years ago to around 100) due to both increasing population and reduction in services at Alexandra Hospital.

“The Hospital is also still affected but the Government’s failure to fully fund the increased staff numbers and increased salaries as a result of the nurse’s enterprise bargaining agreement in 2000.

“One (undesirable) solution to the budget deficit is to cut services – however the Government has directed in writing that services are not to be cut, but the Government has not offered more funding or any alternative solution.

“There is also local resentment at the community having to contribute to capital upgrades and basic maintenance such as replacing the Hospital roof last year. Mansfield community is entitled to receive much greater State Government funding for capital works programs as occurs in Melbourne.

“Recruitment and retention of GPs and other health professionals continues to be a challenge at Mansfield as it is in most country communities.

“On a positive note it seems that the Mt Buller All Year Round Community Health Service has a good chance of receiving one to two years funding from the State Government.

“At Bright we met Lyndon Seys, CEO and Andrew Randell, Chair of Alpine Health Services.

“The key issue for Alpine Health Services is the funding of the upgrade of the Bright Hospital and its co-location with Hawthorn Village.

“A modern hospital co-located with independent living accommodation will ensure much more efficient delivery of top quality health services to our elderly as well as younger members of the local community and visitors.

“Another issue is the need to improve coordination of the delivery of health services such as mental health.

“Alpine Health Service is being proactive in addressing the perennial challenge of recruiting and retaining GPs and allied health professionals (Editors, contact Lyndon Seys for more detail).”

“At Benalla Hospital we met CEO Ray Sweeney and Board Chair Barbara Alexander.

“Benalla Hospital continues to deliver outstanding health services within budget. A significant contributing factor to this highly desirable situation is the increased use of patient’s private health insurance which has benefited the Benalla Hospital finances greatly without any disadvantage to patients.

“Inadequate funding for capital works remains a significant issue with last year’s capital funding from Government being a lowly $3,500.

“Local participation in The National Bowel Screening Program has the capacity to be expanded greatly if more funds can be obtained from the Commonwealth Government.

“Public dental services are benefiting from the two dental chairs based in the new Benalla Community Care building.

“There is also good news with the proposed construction of a medical facility to train young doctors. Training young doctors in rural areas has been shown to substantially increase the likelihood of them coming to work in country communities.

“The CEO of Euroa Hospital, Kym Durance, highlighted the need for community health services in Strathbogie Shire.

“Strathbogie Shire currently has no public hospitals; Nagambie, Euroa & Violet Town all started as Bush Nursing Hospitals and are considered private hospitals which means that they miss out on a lot of State Government funding. This is quite unjust given that communities are being penalised for their predecessors having the foresight and commitment to build hospitals to meet local health needs.

“Community health services are provided to Strathbogie Shire residents from Shepparton, Benalla & Seymour. Whilst this service is much appreciated there are problems with travelling to service providers and coordination of service delivery.

“A proposal that a local community health service based in Euroa with staff travelling to smaller communities such as Strathbogie, Avenel, Longwood etc is under consideration by the State Government at the moment.”

Dr Sykes concluded, “Removing one tier of Government (either Federal or State) and better coordination of the delivery of health and aged care services would free up a lot of money to meet ever increasing capital and operating costs.

“There is also a need to ensure that Country Victorian hospitals get their fair share of funding – something which Mr Delahunty and I will continue to strive for on behalf of people in North East Victoria.”

Media contact: Bill Sykes (03) 5762 2100 or 0427 624 989