Albury Wodonga Health
Rikkie-Lee TYRRELL (Northern Victoria) (13:51): On Sunday I attended a rally in the north-east of my electorate in Corryong with concerned community members in protest against the government’s proposed refurbishment of Albury Wodonga Health. The mayors from Towong shire, Wodonga council and Albury City Council were also in attendance to support the Albury Wodonga Health catchment area communities. There I met Harry, a lovely young man aged only 12, who last year suffered a broken femur in a farming accident. Instead of a helicopter flying him to Albury where he could receive care, he was flown to Canberra. In his own state he could not receive care or a bed or the facility to land a chopper in nearby Albury–Wodonga. This will still be the case if the state and New South Wales continue on with their plans instead of committing to the vital greenfield site for a new hospital in Wodonga. This year Harry’s grandfather became ill with blood poisoning and was taken to Albury via ambulance. He was ramped for 5 hours there. In that 5 hours he lost the vital window to address his issue, be operated on and potentially have his life saved. Instead, when he was finally given a bed his family were called and told they had mere hours to say their goodbyes. Our incompetent Minister for Health is blatantly ignoring the desperate pleas of my constituents for a vital service they deserve. If she is incapable of representing the health requirements of Victorians, then she should step aside. Give the role to somebody who at least possesses an ounce of compassion.