Glen Waverley electorate
John MULLAHY (Glen Waverley) (14:35): (83) My question is to the Minister for Health. How is the Glen Waverley Priority Primary Care Centre supporting my constituents in getting the primary health care they need? When a constituent in my electorate is unwell, the first port of call is their local GP. However, we all know it has been harder and harder to see a GP and even more difficult to find one that bulk-bills. Nine years of neglect and cuts by the former coalition federal government have made this so. Fortunately, the Andrews Labor government once again stepped up and established the priority primary care centres, providing an alternative to GPs and emergency departments, with the Glen Waverley PPCC being one of the first to open. Four weeks ago on Sunday I referred a friend to this clinic to get their dislocated finger checked instead of them going to the ED. My friend sent me the following message:
Thank goodness the Victorian Labor Government has opened up 25 new Priority Primary Care Centres across the state.
It really seems as if they’re doing what matters – reducing the pressure off Emergency Departments while servicing local communities. What a great initiative!
Hopefully the minister can join me in touring the facility so we can be sure that it is meeting my constituents’ needs.