The state opposition held a community “health crisis” forum on February 3 to address the healthcare system and the construction of the hospital in Melton.
Opposition leader Matthew Guy said his party was holding the forum as a way to engage with community members on what they feel needs to be done to address healthcare in Melton.
Also in attendance at the forum was Opposition health spokeswoman Georgie Crozier.
“It’s evident that so many members of this community feel that things have been taken for granted for far too long and that the government has not acted quickly enough,” she said.
Local cataract and glaucoma surgeon Dr Heathcote Wright joined the two to speak about his experiences with the statewide code brown, which put a hold on elective surgery.
“I realised I wasn’t going to be able to go back to work because I can’t do any elective surgery, and found it very frustrating that I’m not able to deliver the care that my patients deserve,” he said.
One resident spoke of her frustration with the healthcare system in the west, recalling needing an ambulance in October 2021 which took one and a half hours to arrive.
Multiple residents spoke about their frustration with vaccine mandates still being in place; a sentiment both Mr Guy and Ms Crozier agreed with, despite having full support for the vaccine.
The Melton hospital was largely the purpose for the forum, which Mr Guy said is an “absolute necessity”.
Sarah Oliver
