When compared to the 2016-17 annual report, public hospital complaints have increased by 29.4 per cent, whereas private hospital complaints have decreased by 3.1 per cent.
State Member for Euroa Annabelle Cleeland said the surge in complaints exemplified a deteriorating health system following a decade of Victorian Government management and substantial reductions in health funding, particularly affecting regional areas.
“The Victorian public hospital system is broken, and Victorians are not able to get the care they need when they need it most,” Ms Cleeland said.
“Labor’s financial mismanagement is having a direct impact on frontline services, and patient outcomes are suffering.”
In addition to issues within public hospitals, Ms Cleeland said Victorian patients remained at risk due to a lack of urgency in adopting a new 000 dispatch system more than 18 months on from commitments made by the government.
In September 2022, the former Emergency Services Telecommunications Authority acknowledged dispatch delays and declining call pick-up rates, which tragically resulted in 33 Victorian deaths.
The 2023-24 state budget then committed funding for ESTA to procure a new computer-aided dispatch system and $2 million to support the 000 reform program “so Victorians know that they’ll get the help they need, quickly and reliably”.
However, as of today, no contract is listed on the project’s website, raising concerns about the timeline for implementing these crucial reforms and potentially leaving Victorians at risk during emergencies.
Ms Cleeland, who is also Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Health, said the government must follow through on its promises.
“Once again the Labor Government has promised to deliver on important services only to fall short,” Ms Cleeland said.
“This was first flagged as a critical issue in July 2021, then again in April 2022, and yet it’s still on hold.
“With the summer approaching, along with potential storms and bushfires, as well as illnesses such as thunderstorm asthma, Victorians are still being left vulnerable.
“Labor cannot manage money, cannot manage our health system, and Victorians are paying the price.”
A spokesperson told the Telegraph the government would not be taking lectures or advice from the Liberal Nationals, saying they spent their last term of government slashing regional health services and warring with paramedics.
“There is always more work to do to ensure the continuous improvement of health care — including public and private sector services, and alternative therapies — but the 2023-24 HCC Annual Report highlights improvement across the system with a decrease in the number of complaints over the past year,” they said.
“Triple Zero Victoria’s Next Generation call-taking system development is under way and will be transformational for the sector — this is complex work, which takes time to ensure it is done to the highest standard.”
Ambulance Victoria’s official response time target aims for 85 per cent of code one emergencies to be attended within 15 minutes, a crucial benchmark for ensuring timely, life-saving interventions in critical situations.
However, in Benalla just 57 per cent of ambulances responded within this time, in the Mitchell Shire only 51 per cent of ambulances reached the target, the Campaspe Shire saw just 58 per cent arrive within the target time, and in the Strathbogie Shire just 31.8 per cent of ambulances arrived within 15 minutes for an average wait of over 23 minutes.
A parliamentary inquiry into Ambulance Victoria is still accepting submissions, with Ms Cleeland encouraging everyone to share their experiences at tinyurl.com/yc5hdjdm
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