The Federal Governments $107 million funding cut to Victoria’s health system has been strongly condemned by Federal Member for Aston Alan Tudge MP in a speech to Federal Parliament today.
Mr Tudge says the cuts will drastically affect local facilities which have been forced to close beds and reduce services as a result. He has called on them to be immediately reversed.
Eastern Health, who operates local facilities Wantirna Health and the Angliss hospital has had a cut of $8.4 million to its yearly budget. Five beds in palliative care at Wantirna Health will close, while a further 5 surgical beds at the Angliss Hospital will also close. There will also be a reduction in joint replacement operations and a suspension of bariatric elective surgery. Community and mental health programs such as the Crisis Assessment Team (CATT), which services the Knox area, will also be cut.
The cuts are in addition to those announced by the Royal Childrens Hospital and the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, both of which service the Knox area.
“Local Knox residents will suffer as a result of these cuts,” Mr Tudge said.
“I find it astounding that the government can spend $110 million on carbon tax promotion, but at the same time has to cut $107 million from vital services in our community.”
“The government has got its priorities entirely wrong here.”
“These cuts must be reversed immediately,” he said.
Mr Tudge is calling on locals to sign up to a petition calling on the government to reverse the cuts. It can be signed at his office (Suite 4, Level 1, 420 Burwood Highway Wantirna South) or online at www.alantudge.com.au.
