South-West Coast electorate
Roma BRITNELL (South-West Coast) (14:57): (934) My question is to the Minister for Health: has the department done a gap analysis on South West Healthcare to determine the optimum mix of medical professionals required to deliver effective and efficient services? 61,000 Victorians are waiting in pain on long waiting lists for elective surgeries, yet in the south-west the dedicated theatre nurses at South West Healthcare have been instructed to take leave or work on the wards. Medical professionals tell me that although there are 20 new physicians employed by the hospital, they were not consulted, so consequently there is not a full complement of anaesthetists, general surgeons and other surgeons to be able to perform the necessary surgeries. The hospital’s theatre lists are not filled and therefore theatres are not being fully utilised and the waiting list grows. Doctors are frustrated they cannot give the care needed to their patients. This is more evidence of waste and ineptitude by the Allan Labor government.