Tuesday, 30 August 2022

 Ms THOMAS (Macedon—Minister for Health, Minister for Ambulance Services) (14:21): I rise today to update the house on how the Andrews Labor government is expanding priority primary care services to ease the unprecedented demand on our health system. This morning I was pleased to join our Premier as well as the New South Wales Premier, Dom Perrottet, for this fantastic announcement at the Austin Hospital. We know how important getting the right care at the right time is, not just for patients and families but to help reduce the burden and the strain that our health system has been experiencing. That is why we are increasing the number of priority primary care centres here in Victoria to 25. These centres are creating another option beyond the emergency department, easing some of the pressure on hospitals and healthcare workers. They will free up capacity for emergency departments while providing people with the care that they need.

As the two biggest states we are working together and leading the way to protect and support our health systems. Each state will establish 25 priority primary care services. Each of these will see 300 patients a week. We will do this in partnership with primary health networks, hospitals and general practitioners. These centres will have extended opening hours seven days a week for up to 16 hours a day. From the Austin Hospital to Albury Wodonga Health and Ballarat to Box Hill, we are working to deliver these priority primary care centres across our state. After years of neglect by the former coalition government the states are stepping in to fill the void that was created by underinvestment in general practice. These clinics will have everything that Victorians need like X-rays, medicine and pathology. We are doing this while also delivering the Suburban Rail Loop because governments must do both. We are not about politics. We are about patients and delivering for all Victorians. (Time expired)