- Published:
- Wednesday 4 February 2015
Under the Liberals, Victorians waited too long for emergency treatment and elective surgery, the Productivity Commission’s Report on Government Services has confirmed.
In 2013-14, almost half a million Victorians waited more than four hours in emergency departments for treatment, failing to meet the national target.
This represents around a third of the total number of people who presented to emergency departments.
The report also shows that more than 5400 Victorians waited more than 365 days for their elective surgery in 2013-14, the worst performance of all mainland states.
Victoria’s health system is in crisis after the former Liberal Government cut $1 billion from the sector.
Now, the Abbott Government wants to put even more pressure on our emergency departments by making it more expensive for Victorians to see their GP.
The report found that the number of potentially avoidable GP-type presentations to emergency departments increased significantly between 2009-10 and 2013-14, to over 572,000.
This will only worsen with a $5 GP Tax.
Recent data shows an additional 10,000 Victorians would present at emergency departments each year because of Tony Abbott’s GP Tax, putting our public hospitals under even more pressure.
The report also confirms that in their first two years of government, the Liberals added only 41 beds to Victoria’s health system, despite promising 800 beds over their term.
The Andrews Labor Government has appointed respected surgeon and former head of the Victorian AMA, Dr Doug Travis, to conduct a state-wide audit of hospital and theatre capacity and recommend how to increase the number of beds in Victorian hospitals.
Quotes attributable to Premier Daniel Andrews
“Under the Liberals, our loved ones were waiting too long for emergency treatment and too long for surgery.”
“The facts speak for themselves. The Liberals made savage cuts to our health system and Victorians suffered.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Health, Jill Hennessy
“This Government is working hard to rebuild our health system, to find the beds that patients need and the minutes that save lives.”
“We'll fight Tony Abbott's GP Tax all the way because we know it will put more pressure on our already over-stretched emergency departments.”