Health system
Mr TILLEY (Benambra) (14:27): My question is to the Minister for Health. Peter from Corryong has been verbally told he is a category 1 patient as he has a blood-clotting disorder called factor V Leiden. He is taking blood thinners, and he requires a major operation. He is just 39 years old but has multiple hernias on a scar line from a previous operation. He is living in pain. He needs the operation soon as it is impacting his employment and his new, young family. When will this government finally admit that Victoria’s health system is in crisis and that years of under-resourcing an underinvestment have left people like Peter in a situation where any further delay getting their operations will result in permanent, long-lasting injury?
Ms THOMAS (Macedon—Minister for Health, Minister for Ambulance Services) (14:28): I thank the member for Benambra for his question in relation to his constituent Peter from Corryong. I make this point: the latest health data, which was released only a week or so ago—which by the way our government does every quarter, we are very transparent about our health data—demonstrated that 99.97 per cent of category 1 patients are treated within the clinically recommended time lines.
Once again I will say category 1 patients are treated within the clinically approved time line, which is 30 days. Now, if this is not the case in relation to Peter, then I suggest that the member for Benambra writes to me because this would be extremely unusual. Indeed the only reason for which less than a handful of patients did not receive that treatment in the previous quarter was because their physicians were actually sick and so it was by one or two days pushed out. But once again I make the point that if the member is genuinely interested in the health outcome of his constituent, then he can send me the details and I will follow them up for him.
Mr TILLEY (Benambra) (14:30): On a supplementary question, Peter is just one victim of the border not having the health service it needs. Albury and Wodonga desperately need a new hospital. They had nothing from this government in eight years—absolutely nothing. Why has this government failed to front up and provide the border with Victoria’s share of the money that is needed to build us a brand new hospital?
Ms THOMAS (Macedon—Minister for Health, Minister for Ambulance Services) (14:31): Once again I thank the member for his question. I make this point: Albury Wodonga Health is jointly managed by the Victorian and New South Wales governments. I was at Albury Base not long ago with Bronnie Taylor, The Nationals Minister for Regional Health, where we were announcing the expansion of the emergency department and the delivery of an urgent care centre there at the hospital.
Mr Tilley: On a point of order, Speaker, this has been paid for by the taxpayers of New South Wales. You have done nothing—zero, nought.
Members interjecting.
The SPEAKER: Order! Members will come to order. Member for Benambra, you know that is not a point of order.
Ms THOMAS: As I was saying, the emergency department and the short-stay care unit were funded by the Victorian government. I have established a good working relationship with my colleagues in New South Wales, as indeed the former minister did, and together we are working with— (Time expired)