THE State Government is rolling out 25 GP-led Primary Care Centres across Victoria but the locations of 10 centres are yet to be announced.
Independent Member for Shepparton, Suzanna Sheed, has written to Health Minister Mary-Ann Thomas asking Shepparton to be included in the next round of Priority Primary Care Centres.
These centres are to help ease pressure on emergency departments and deal with non-critical issues like mild infections, fractures and burns. Ms Sheed spoke recently in Parliament about the urgent need for a Priority Primary Care Centre in Shepparton.
“GV Health is facing a shortage of 80 doctors, 130 nurses, and 40 allied health professionals and this is creating long wait times in the emergency room and other parts of the hospital,” said Ms Sheed.
“The Victorian Government has not yet announced the locations of 10 of these centres but I believe decisions are being made and I want to make sure Ms Thomas knows of the severe disadvantage our community is facing with our dire shortage of medical staff.
“Our community members should not have to wait extended times for acute medical assessments.
“We need this pressure lifted immediately and a staffed GP-led Priority Primary Care Centre would benefit our community and valuable healthcare staff.
“The service would free up the emergency rooms for the most serious cases and take care of the non-urgent cases at the same time at a separate facility.
“Without such a service, our health care staff will reduce in numbers due to the stress of the job and this will leave our community even more vulnerable to serious illness.”
