Thursday, 18 June 2026

 Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (03:59): (2616) I think I am the last one; thank goodness for that. My adjournment is for the Minister for Health. NurseLink Healthcare is a Department of Health–approved non-emergency patient transport provider. Recently I spoke to the group chief operations officer of NurseLink, who has contacted me regarding a significant barrier to delivering NEPT services. Following a rigorous application process and compliance assessment in April, NurseLink Heathcare was granted a NEPT service licence by the Department of Health. In anticipation of commencing operations, this small business has invested over $2 million in vehicles, equipment, compliance and infrastructure. But despite the department issuing a licence, NurseLink Heathcare has been advised they cannot operate in the Victorian public hospital system because they are not listed on the HealthShare Victoria NEPT panel. They have now been advised that the HSV panel is closed to new entrants until April 2028, despite hospitals confirming to NurseLink that there is demand for additional NEPT capacity.

To quote from the chief operating officer’s email to me when he initially contacted me:

Non-emergency patient transport is not a luxury. Victorians are currently waiting extended periods for transport to and from medical appointments, hospital admissions, and discharge services. The demand is real, it is documented, and it is growing. The hospitals we have spoken with have been unambiguous and they want and need more NEPT capacity. We are here, we are ready, and we are approved. And yet we are prevented from helping.

NEPT services are essential to Victorian patients to access the health care they need, yet this approved provider is denied the ability to operate for two years, placing considerable financial strain on the business. This is extraordinary. The action I seek is for the minister to ensure the department meets with the chief operating officer of NurseLink Heathcare to sort this out. He has been granted the licence. He needs to be able to operate.