Wednesday, 19 February 2025

Albury Wodonga Health

Bill TILLEY (Benambra) (09:56): On 15 December 2023 it almost rained in the north-east. Mary-Anne – that is not her real name – remembers because on that Wednesday 431 days ago she was put on the category 2 surgery list at Albury Wodonga Health. 431 days is the average wait on the category 2 waiting list. Hopefully she is being prepped for surgery now. It should have been 90 days, but instead it has been 431 days of living in pain – 431 days if she is lucky. So many wait for far longer.

If Rutherglen’s Mary-Anne suffered a life-threatening episode because of the delayed surgery, there would be just a one in five chance of an ambulance getting to her in time. Of the 190 people in Indigo shire with a code 1 ambulance emergency in late 2024, 147 could not be reached in the 15-minute critical window. That is a 77 per cent strike rate – a deficiency.

Today I will ask another Mary-Anne to explain why the desperately needed modular surgical units and step-down beds at Albury Wodonga Health remain in limbo. The lack of beds is why ambulances are ramped and surgeries delayed. Just like Alice in Wonderland, you will never meet Mary-Anne, but the numbers are real. For so many the numbers are real. When is the government going to get real with us?

The SPEAKER: Order! I remind members to use correct titles when they are referring to other members in the chamber.