No easy cure

By Bridget Cook
EMERGENCY department treatment times, ambulance services and more focus on prevention were factors that local candidates said needed to be improved in Greater Dandenong.
Dandenong MP John Pandazopoulos said while the State Government had almost rebuilt Dandenong Hospital with $155 million for more beds and new emergency department and mental health facilities, there was still more needed.
“The biggest priority now as building works finish is to increase our local capacity to treat people quicker in emergency, to reduce in-patient waiting lists and to boost the number of people using out-patient services,” he said.
“Now is the time to reduce waiting lists from the record $1.5 billion health boost announced.”
Mr Pandazopoulos said the other issue was an ageing, low-income community, so access to public health services was essential.
Liberal candidate for Dandenong Dale Key said a Baillieu Government would deliver significant investment to improve Victoria’s ailing ambulance service, as Greater Dandenong residents deserved the highest quality ambulance services.
“Already the Victorian Coalition has committed to recruiting an additional 310 new ambulance paramedics plus 30 new patient transport officers which will boost health services,” Mr Key said.
Liberal candidate for Lyndhurst Tony Holland said Victoria’s hospitals were in crisis and our heath system was in decline due to the failure of John Brumby to invest for the future.
“Failing infrastructure, a chronic shortage of hospital beds and a rapidly growing and ageing population means that health services are struggling to meet the needs of Greater Dandenong families,” Mr Holland said.
“As Greater Dandenong grows, so does the pressure on essential health services and our hospitals.”
Greens candidate for Dandenong Matthew Kirwan said health was a major issue for Victorians, but policies needed to focus on more than just hospitals.
“While we need to fund hospitals, we also need to invest in keeping people healthy – to focus on wellness, not sickness,” he said.
“This greater focus on prevention and primary health care will bring down health costs for the state too.
“Leadership on this issue will be shown by the Greens at a state level but newly elected Greens Senator for Victoria, Richard Di Natale will support Greens measures on a federal level. He is a doctor himself and is a specialist on health prevention.”
Greens candidate for Lyndhurst Nina Springle said co-ordination and integration between health services was far below standard in Greater Dandenong.
“Lack of communication between primary health care and post hospital services is a constant issue, particularly in communities where language or cultural barriers exist,” she said.
“The Greens believe that health care is about more than just hospitals so we will prioritise funding for preventative health care and early intervention services.
“We support more doctors and nurses in public hospitals and increasing roles for nurse practitioners in community and outpatient health centres.
“The Greens would work to improve access, according to need, to community and allied health services and improve co-ordination between and integration of all health services.”