Questions without notice and ministers statements
Ambulance services
John PESUTTO (Hawthorn – Leader of the Opposition) (14:03): My question is to the Minister for Health. Ahead of the last election Labor promised that Victorians will get world-class health care when they need it. It was revealed at PAEC that this was not true for 20 Victorians, who tragically died while waiting for an ambulance. Will the minister guarantee that no more Victorians will die waiting for an ambulance on her watch?
Mary-Anne THOMAS (Macedon – Leader of the House, Minister for Health, Minister for Health Infrastructure, Minister for Ambulance Services) (14:03): I welcome the question from the Leader of the Opposition. Every sentinel event that occurs in our health system is a tragedy, and I want to recognise the impact that these tragic events have on the families and friends of those who have lost their lives when something has not gone how it should go in our health system. But I do want to assure Victorians of this: when such an event occurs we take it very, very seriously. There are a range of review processes in place. We established Safer Care Victoria of course back in 2016, following a number of unexplained deaths of babies at Bacchus Marsh hospital. We always have at the top of our mind a focus on improving the safety and quality of our health care system. And when things do not go as they should, then it is our duty and responsibility to learn from those mistakes, and indeed that is what Safer Care does. Safer Care reports annually on the work that it has done and on the implementation of improvements that have been recommended as a result of the inquiry and analysis into events such as those that have occurred at AV.
John PESUTTO (Hawthorn – Leader of the Opposition) (14:05): Marianne Maher is a 53-year-old mum from Ballarat. Two weeks ago she woke up with sharp pains in her leg. Her partner called 000 and was assured that the next ambulance will be there. Four additional calls to 000 and over 4 hours later, an ambulance arrived. Tragically, it was too late, and doctors had to amputate Marianne’s leg to save her life. Doctors told Marianne that if she had arrived at the hospital earlier, the leg could have been saved. How many more Victorians like Marianne will have to suffer catastrophic outcomes like the amputation of a leg before the government fixes the crisis in our health system?
Mary-Anne THOMAS (Macedon – Leader of the House, Minister for Health, Minister for Health Infrastructure, Minister for Ambulance Services) (14:06): My thoughts are with Ms Maher and her family at this very distressing time, and I want to assure the house that Ambulance Victoria is indeed in touch with Ms Maher herself and with her family. They have issued an apology, and a review has commenced to understand exactly what has gone wrong here. As part of this review, Ambulance Victoria will work directly with Ms Maher and her family. Again, my thoughts are with her – Ms Maher – and her family at this time.