The Nationals candidate for Euroa says the latest elective surgery waiting lists emphasise the need for the Suburban Rail Loop to be scrapped and for that money to be redirected to the state’s health system.
Annabelle Cleeland says new quarterly data shows the wait for elective surgery at local hospitals is not reducing and at the current rate, is unlikely to improve until almost 2030.
“I have experienced first hand the enormous pressure our local hospitals are under because they are not properly resourced, and that was before COVID struck,” Ms Cleeland said.
“The Andrews Labor Government claims it has overhauled the system, yet there are 87,725 Victorians across the state who are still facing uncertainty around crucial surgery.
“At the current rate, waiting lists will remain above pre-COVID levels until 2029.
“That is simply not good enough for locals who are in pain and desperately in need of surgery.
“People in our region are being forced to live with conditions that should have been fixed a long time ago.”
Ms Cleeland said more than 1040 people were waiting for surgery through Goulburn Valley Health, including 32 category one patients, or patients facing urgent need.
She said another 2547 people were on the waiting list at The Northern Hospital in Epping, an increase of 66 people over the past three months, and 891 more than this time last year.
Ms Cleeland said in government the Nationals would redirect investment from the inner-city Suburban Rail Loop project to fix the state’s health crisis.
“An extra $8 billion will be pumped into regional hospitals as a result of our decision to prioritise healthcare over a city rail project that won’t be built for decades,” she said.
“In voting this November, people have a clear choice. We will save lives, while Labor’s priority is to save city commuters time.”