South-West Coast electorate
Ms BRITNELL (South-West Coast) (14:45): (6400) My constituency question is for the Minister for Health, and the information I seek is: what options are being explored at Portland District Health to replace its ophthalmologist? Dr Robert Harvey resigned as Portland District Health’s ophthalmologist and finished in late March, leaving 150 patients on his waiting list in limbo. Dr Harvey resigned because his request to become a visiting medical officer—VMO—which is commonplace for ophthalmologists Australia wide, was denied. No reason was given, and he now practises in South Australia. The loss of Dr Harvey is a huge blow to the Portland region. Greg Malseed, who attended a forum last week in Portland to discuss the impact of the loss of the service at PDH, fears losing the sight in his right eye because of the delay caused by Dr Harvey’s loss from Portland. He is already blind in his left eye. His story is one of many from those who are impacted by the loss of ophthalmology at Portland. Dr Harvey remains committed to Portland and wants to return and offer his services as a VMO. I would ask the minister to outline what steps are being taken to return ophthalmology to Portland.