By Sumeyya Ilanbey
Health Minister Jill Hennessy has avoided meeting the Melton community about the “urgent” need for a public hospital in the municipality for seven months.
The Melton Hospital Group committee and Melton council say they’ve attempted to meet the health minister on several occasions, stretching back to February, but have been told “she’s too busy”.
More than 13,000 people have signed a petition calling on the state government to build a public hospital in Melton since the campaign was launched five weeks ago.
Committee member, and neuropathology manager at the University of Melbourne’s Florey Institute, Dr Ian Birchall said the group was disappointed by the state government’s lack of “logical forward-thinking” and acknowledgement for this “vital” project.
“Although the need for hospital infrastructure in Melton is undeniable, the minister’s office has not acknowledged our visit or the hospital proposal in any way,” Dr Birchall said.
“Disappointingly, the wishes of over 13,000 residents don’t appear to count for much at all and to date the minister’s office has not communicated with the Melton Hospital Group and has not offered any excuses apart from ‘the minister is too busy’.
“Maybe the only way to get some attention is to make Melton a marginal seat in the upcoming election.”
Melton mayor Bob Turner said the council was disappointed the health minister could not find the time to discuss this “urgent health issue” with the Melton community.
“We hope Minister Hennessy might reconsider, and provide us the opportunity to advise why this community is in desperate need of a hospital in Melton,” Cr Turner said.
When Star Weekly asked Ms Hennessy’s office why the health minister had avoided a meeting, a spokesman said the Labor government had invested record funding in hospitals and health services across the state.
“Locals have put their views forward loud and clear and we’ve listened to every word,” he said.
“The minister and her colleagues regularly meet with community members, healthcare groups and other organisations – and we work side-by-side with them to deliver the best health care for locals.”
Star Weekly asked the spokesman when the health minister met with members of the Melton community, but didn’t receive a response by deadline.
