Are local hospitals in the dark ages?

Dear editor,

I’m not sure this state Labor Government really understands how important local hospitals are to country communities.

It’s been reported widely that hospitals will face forced amalgamations and budget cuts, due to Labor’s inability to manage money.

This means there will be large hospital organisations in country areas covering multiple communities, all controlled from a central point. Having locals on hospitals boards will be a thing of the past.

And the potential impact on frontline services is significant, with likely cuts impacting all hospital functions.

Meanwhile, hospitals continue to face staff shortages, elective surgery waiting lists continue to balloon and ambulance ramping is increasingly more common.

Some hospitals are even using taxi services to transport patients, instead of properly equipped patient transport units.

We should be investing in our health system, not inflicting savage cuts.

Labor’s inability to manage money is forcing our hospital services back to the dark ages, and it’s patients and locals who suffer. It’s about time Labor started listening.

Joe McCracken

Member for Western Victoria