Through Liberal candidate Raissa Butkowski, the Coalition last week said it would deliver a ‘Healthcare Built to Last’ package to secure the future of healthcare in Farrer.
It would include a $185 million Albury-Wodonga Health Infrastructure Fund to complete the current hospital upgrade and “kickstart work on a future hospital for the region”.
The package also includes a $15 million mental health package to expand access to care, which would include the establishment of a headspace centre in Deniliquin.
As Australia’s National Youth Mental Health Foundation, headspace provides early intervention mental health services to 12-25 year olds.
It’s understood the promise relies on support from the sitting Labor Government, or would remain only an election promise until such time the Coalition can win back power at an election.
The next full Federal Election can be held any time between August 2027 and May 2028.
Health was always going to be one of the big topics at the by-election, but Berrigan Shire Mayor Julia Cornwell McKean said core health issues in smaller communities are still being ignored.
“Through this by-election campaign in Farrer, I have heard a lot about access to health services from the candidates about Albury, Griffith and even Deni.
“But I've not heard anything about us. Let me be clear, this is not acceptable.
“Health care in Berrigan Shire is in crisis.
“It is our view that Murrumbidgee Local Health District is not doing enough for us.
“We are being left behind, forgotten and frankly left for dead.
“We are not asking for miracles. We are merely asking for equity. We do not consider that these problems are unsurmountable.”
In making her point, Cr Cornwell McKean reiterated a number of health concerns she raised at a health inquiry hearing in Griffith last month, including:
• If you live in the town of Tocumwal the median wait time for an ambulance in a priority one emergency is around 24 minutes. Less than two per cent of calls meet the target time of 8.6 minutes.
• If you live in Berrigan and require dialysis you will need to travel 1.5 hours each way three times a week. That’s once you’ve got to the top of the waiting list.
• If you live in Barooga and you have a suspected heart attack you’ll need to get to Albury, 90 minutes away, or Melbourne three hours away to access life saving tests.
• If you live in Finley and have a stroke there is no chance of you receiving treatment within the ‘golden hour’ – treatment that will reverse the damage that the stroke has done.
Ms Butkowski said the $200 million health commitment would deliver immediate improvements at Albury, a primary regional hospital used by residents, while securing long-term capacity for a fast-growing region.
“We will complete the missing pieces of the current hospital upgrade, including the helipad with direct ICU, emergency and neonatal access promised in 2022, a fully fitted paediatric ward, an additional surgical theatre, expanded renal dialysis capacity, and practical improvements to parking and site access, so patients can get timely care when they need it.
“We will also look ahead, with funding for planning, site acquisition and early works for a new hospital. That is how you deliver for the next generation.”
The package will also deliver Farrer’s first Medicare Mental Health Centre, a walk-in service requiring no referral, a dedicated farmer mental health specialist, and the headspace centre in Deniliquin.
While the Coalition makes no formal promise for Deniliquin Hospital funding, Independent candidate for Farrer Michelle Milthorpe has made it one of her key election platforms.
“We need a fully funded Deniliquin Hospital and more regional GPs,” Mrs Milthorpe said.
“Quite obviously, hospital infrastructure in Deniliquin has been ignored for too long and I want to fight to ensure this changes.
“Deniliquin has incredible doctors and nurses who do their best.
“They deserve better facilities, and so does this whole community.
“Deniliquin is one of only three hospitals in Farrer delivering babies, and it is critical to our whole region.
“A new hospital (at Deniliquin) would also benefit Albury because it would be under less pressure if more people were cared for here, instead of being transferred to Albury, as regularly occurs at present.”
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