Thursday, 9 June 2022

Questions without notice and ministers statements

Health system

Ms VALLENCE (Evelyn) (14:01): My question is to the Premier. On 6 April 2022 I asked the Minister for Health in this chamber about my constituent Stephanie, who at that stage had been waiting eight months for surgery to repair her facial disfigurement as a consequence of removing cancer from her tongue. I subsequently wrote to the minister on 20 April providing Stephanie’s full name, address, the hospital she attended and a detailed explanation about the pain and health issues she was suffering as a consequence of waiting for surgery. I confirm that neither I nor Stephanie have received any response or contact from the health minister or anyone in the government or Department of Health about her painful situation. Stephanie has now been waiting 10 months for surgery and is unable to eat properly or leave home. Will the Premier now admit that the government not only has a health crisis but no longer cares about even responding to the Victorians it is failing?

Mr ANDREWS (Mulgrave—Premier) (14:02): I thank the member for Evelyn for her question, and I acknowledge the circumstances of her constituent were raised with the Minister for Health. My advice is that it is not accurate to say that the patient in question has not been contacted. My advice is that the department has contacted the patient and discussed these matters with the patient, so to suggest otherwise is inaccurate.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order!

Mr ANDREWS: No, no—the department has spoken with the patient in question. That is the advice I have.

Ms Vallence: On a point of order, Speaker, I would ask that the Premier actually table that advice because my constituent has confirmed no response and has heard nothing.

The SPEAKER: Order! That is not a point of order.

Mr ANDREWS: I will simply add that whether it be Stephanie, this particular patient whose circumstances have been raised—and obviously no-one wants to see anybody having to wait longer than is absolutely necessary for their surgery—this pandemic has seen a number of surgeries cancelled and a number of patients impacted by that. That is why in the budget just a little while ago, a budget that some misrepresent, if they even acknowledge it—a bit like the pandemic, they will not even acknowledge that the pandemic is real—we provided a $1.5 billion boost to elective surgery, not just a blitz, not a blitz, not some once-only thing where we do a bit more for a short period of time, but a comprehensive plan developed in consultation and partnership with our clinical leads, with people who do this work and care for these patients right across our state, to grow the total capacity to 240 000 procedures a year, each and every year. It not only includes COVID catch-up, it also includes growing the capacity of the system in an enduring way. That is really important. That is what our health professionals have told us they need and want. That is what is best for patients, and we are pushing on. Despite the political games of others, we are pushing on to get this job done. I am very proud that our whole team are doing the best they can and working as hard as they can in very challenging circumstances to do more surgery faster.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! I warn members again. If they shout across the chamber during question time, they will be removed without further warning.

Ms Vallence: On a point of order, Speaker, I seek your guidance on the Premier misleading the Parliament because my constituent has confirmed they have not received anything. But I would also, on a further point of order—

The SPEAKER: Order! On the first point of order, there is no point of order. That is not the form to raise that matter. The second point of order is?

Ms Vallence: On relevance, the Premier is straying from the very narrow question about responding to my constituent, who has suffered severe jaw disfigurement for over 10 months with no certainty of surgery. I would ask that you bring the Premier back to answering the question.

The SPEAKER: Order! The question cited a specific example and then asked at the end a very broad question about a health crisis and responding to Victorians. The Premier is being relevant to the question that was asked.

Mr ANDREWS: As I was saying, the patient that the member referred to has been contacted. That is the advice I have been given. Secondly, the question related to the health system, and I am obliged therefore to point out the massive investment that this government has made and continues to make. It is not about the politics; it is about the patients. That is what drives us. That is what drives every nurse, every ambo, every doctor, every member of the team—a team that is disparaged daily by some and supported every day by this government.

Ms VALLENCE (Evelyn) (14:07): Stephanie, my constituent, is not a liar. When the government asks for full details of the case, gets them, then ignores the information—

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Evelyn has the call.

Ms VALLENCE: Stephanie, my constituent, is not a liar. When the government asks for full details, gets them, then ignores the information provided, like in the case of Stephanie, what should Victorians do next to get the attention and care that they need at the time they need it?

Mr ANDREWS (Mulgrave—Premier) (14:07): The member for Evelyn ought to check with her constituent. The advice—

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order!

Mr ANDREWS: Well, just then? I do not think she did it just then. The only person calling into question the accuracy and truthfulness of this patient is the member for Evelyn. I am not making that accusation at all, nor would I. The advice I have is that this particular patient has been contacted, and to suggest otherwise is not accurate. That is not the advice I have. I am grateful to the member for Evelyn for providing details. If only the Leader of the Opposition did the same, then we would be able to follow up each and every case that he has raised. But, you see, it might well be that they have been raised for political gain rather than to get those patients treatment. That is all we want to do: get them the care they need.

Ms Vallence: On a point of order, Speaker, on relevance: as I asked, I would just like to find out on what date my constituent was actually responded to by anyone in this government.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! Members on both sides of the house will come to order. The Premier is being relevant to the question that has been asked. The Premier has concluded his answer.