Peter Walsh – Letter to the Editor
Monday 5 August 2024
Emergency department wait times have spiked across regional Victoria, highlighting the dire state of our buckling health system.
The latest data from the Victorian Agency for Health Information paints a frightening picture, with troubling trends emerging in Ballarat, Warrnambool and the Latrobe Valley.
Among the damning wait time statistics for emergency departments is Bendigo Hospital, in Premier Jacinta Allan’s own backyard.
Bendigo has experienced a staggering 167 per cent rise in median wait times despite a rise in patient numbers of less than one per cent.
These statistics reflect a broader issue of resource allocation and management within our healthcare system.
Along with the appalling emergency department wait times increasing, the Allan Labor Government is proposing hospital amalgamations and budget cuts.
We must continue to rally behind hospitals to keep them local.
The Allan Labor Government continually avoids focussing on delivering the essential services that we rely on.
The current health crisis demands immediate attention and action.
We need a government who understands the challenges faced by regional communities and are committed to addressing them.
This includes ensuring adequate funding for our hospitals, improving emergency response times, and maintaining a strong healthcare workforce in regional areas.
The Allan Labor Government must focus on these core issues rather than becoming distracted by inner city social or political agendas that do not directly benefit regional communities.
It’s time for a return to basics with a renewed focus on healthcare, roads, and essential services.
Labor can’t manage money and it’s regional Victorians who are paying the price.
Peter Walsh
Leader of The Nationals