Tuesday, 14 May 2024

Ministers statements: priority primary care centres

Mary-Anne THOMAS (Macedon – Leader of the House, Minister for Health, Minister for Health Infrastructure, Minister for Ambulance Services) (14:32): On the cost of living, I rise to update the house on how the Allan Labor government is supporting families, ensuring access and cost are no barrier to Victorian children getting the care and the treatment that they need. We have now invested more than $125 million into our priority primary care centres. We have led the nation with the delivery of this new treatment option, and I have got to tell you that families are embracing the opportunity that this presents to save them a trip to the emergency department. It saves them waiting on the phone trying to get an appointment with their GP.

I had the great pleasure of being out with the member for Essendon yesterday in his electorate, at the Moonee Ponds priority primary care centre. It was an opportunity to see how our government’s investment is helping PPCCs to continue to deliver for families in the suburbs and indeed across the regions. Mums and dads know that PPCCs are there for them. Indeed at Moonee Ponds we were told that 40 per cent of their patients are children and indeed 20 per cent are children under five. So we know that this is meeting a real need for our community. With family members being the single biggest referrer to PPCCs, it shows Victorians trust and value these clinics.

Along with our ongoing investments in early parenting centres, in the baby bundle and in ensuring that we are making sure that every child in a government school has access to free dental health check-ups through the Smile Squad, we are making a real difference for families. We are helping families with the cost of living, making sure that their children’s health and care are never, ever compromised under an Allan Labor government. We are getting on, helping families, delivering for the people of Victoria.