Thursday, 11 September 2025

Health system

Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (17:47): (1972) My adjournment matter is for the attention of the Minister for Health. This week I spoke to a woman who was quite distressed, actually – Lisa. She contacted me about her significant and ongoing health issue due to a deteriorating eye condition. Lisa’s right eye muscle has detached from the eyelid, requiring surgery. As a result of the condition she suffers from severe irritation, photophobia and is prone to eye infections.

Despite her GP referring Lisa to the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital over 12 months ago, she has been advised that the wait time for an appointment is five years. This is totally unacceptable. This is an unacceptable delay for someone who is experiencing daily discomfort and potential long-term damage to her vision given the risk of infections in other areas, which she has to deal with each day. Her case was then referred to Monash Medical Centre, but she was informed that she would not be placed on their waiting list unless her case was approved by the board. It has also affected her ability to work. Unfortunately Lisa lost her job last week and cannot afford private surgery. As she told me, Lisa has paid taxes her entire working life, yet she cannot get care when she needs it. Lisa has expressed her frustration and distress at the lack of access to timely public health care.

She is not alone. I have so many people contacting my office every day, every week about their inability to get the surgery that they need. As I said, she is not alone. There are just far too many Victorians that are waiting in pain. Their health is deteriorating. It is affecting their ability to undertake normal daily activities. As Lisa said, she is fearful that she will not even be able to get a job because of the condition that she has and the unsightly issue of this eye condition – the fact that her muscle has detached and the impact that is having on her eye socket and eyeball. It is really distressing for her. The action I seek from the minister is to urgently address the unacceptable waiting time for essential surgery.