Tuesday, 3 October 2023

South-Eastern Metropolitan Region

Ann-Marie HERMANS (South-Eastern Metropolitan) (13:02): (420) My constituency question is for the Minister for Health to advise me and my constituents why the Frankston Healthcare centre has just been told that, with over 400 patients who are currently receiving methadone treatment, the centre will close its doors, forcing people to the emergency department at Frankston Hospital for this treatment. The centre, which currently treats over 1800 drug-dependent patients, is being forced to close its doors because the government has refused to meet with them to discuss promised continued funding over the last four months. Last week the centre was told that no funding would be allocated now. Minister, apart from the pain and suffering this will cause to those who need the treatment and the further pressure that will be added to the already overburdened hospital system, this also has the potential to cause further crime in our streets and could result in challenges in the emergency department at the hospital, where staff, the elderly, children, pregnant women and sick people need immediate attention and a sense of safety.