Trung LUU (Western Metropolitan) (13:02): (2364) My constituency question is for the Minister for Health regarding the proposal to remove the vital oesophageal surgery service from the newly built $1.5 billion Footscray Hospital. My constituent has been advised that the proposed centralisation of all oesophageal surgery services will be removed from the new Footscray Hospital despite it having the expertise and the capability to deliver them safely at the hospital. Footscray Hospital is already delivering high-quality oesophageal surgeries, with outcomes meeting international benchmarks and no recorded deaths with this high-risk emergency service. Can the minister please confirm and update my constituents as to why all patients are now required to travel a significant distance west to Geelong hospital or to Peter Mac in the east of Melbourne? Doctors and patients have raised concerns that this could lead to fragmented care and reduced access to emergency services and add strain to vulnerable patients and their families.
Sitting suspended 1:03 pm to 2:02 pm.