Thursday, 17 October 2024

Patient transport

Tim McCURDY (Ovens Valley) (10:07): The Victorian government has callously ceased patient transfers for many regional people. After years of calling for dialysis chairs to be installed in Cobram, which we still do not have, Cobram patients need to travel to Yarrawonga and Shepparton. We now find transport for dialysis patients will no longer be available through the patient transfer network. Let us be clear: this is not a specialised ambulance-style vehicle; this is funding a taxi so that pensioners can receive the care they need. Three Cobram residents who survive on a pension will use nearly 100 per cent of their pension to transport themselves to and from Yarrawonga three times a week for life-saving dialysis treatment. Premier Allan, you have completely abandoned these people. My understanding is that metropolitan Melbourne patient transfer remains unchanged.

On top of this, Frank Darke of Wangaratta recently had a car accident which brought upon a stroke, and Frank was taken to Royal Melbourne Hospital as his car was undrivable due to the collision. When Frank was discharged from hospital he was told he would need to catch a train to Wangaratta because patient transfer no longer is available to regional patients. This is a massive slap in the face for Frank and other regional patients who are admitted to Melbourne hospitals because our regional hospitals do not have the resources to assist them.

The lack of respect and support for regional people is a disgrace, people who have paid their taxes all their lives, and when it is time to get a hand up, they are told to find their own way home. 2026 cannot come fast enough to get rid of this appalling Allan Labor government.