Northern Metropolitan Region
Sheena WATT (Northern Metropolitan) (12:58): (818) My question is for the Minister for Health. I am sure many members here can tell you stories about the challenges being felt in our communities in getting to see a local GP. The truth is it seems like it has never been harder to get in and see a doctor when you need to. A decade of federal government neglect of Medicare saw appointment times shortened and appointments harder to come by, but too often in desperation Victorians are heading to our emergency wards to have low acuity conditions such as fractures, burns and mild infections seen to. With the new priority primary care clinics, it is urgent medical services for Victorians, but there are no sirens or lights, just quick and easy help from a GP when you need it most. I have a question for the Minister for Health in the other place, and that is: can she provide an update about how the rollout of these new PPCCs in the Northern Metropolitan Region is progressing and where they are located, particularly for families?