Longer wait for less outcome

By Lia Bichel
LONG waiting lists for elective surgeries at Casey Hospital are causing problems for local families, a local MP says.
But the State Government said the Victorian health system was facing significant pressure from increased demand so they have increased funding to health services.
Narre Warren North MP Luke Donnellan said it was a disgrace that elective surgery waiting lists across Southern Health would increase by 785 from 2010/11 to 2011/12. He said that at the same time, elective surgery would drop by 1858 from 22,258 to 20,400.
“It’s yet another blow for local residents who rely on the local health system, with nurse patient rations under threat and beds at hospitals being under-utilised because of a failure to fund more staff.”
“Longer waiting lists will really affect many people across Casey this year,” Mr Donnellan said.
“As the population ages, even more services will be needed, and instead of increasing number of operations, the Baillieu government has heartlessly cut them.”
Endeavour Hills resident Janine Paul said she was in need of surgery for her knee.
“The longer it takes to get my knee operation, the longer I can’t go about my normal business every day,” Ms Paul said.
“I can’t do gardening, and I need help to do my shopping.”
Kathryn McFarlane, a spokesperson for Minister for Health David Davis, said the State Government increased funding to Southern Health by $36 million this financial year and the 2011/12 State Budget provided funding of $1 million to conduct planning and development work to support the expansion of Casey Hospital.
Ms McFarlane said that it would take time to turn around “Labor’s 11 years of mismanagement” of Victoria’s health system.