The State Government has been asked to step in and address the major issue of medical imaging delays at Bairnsdale Regional Health Service and other country hospitals, by State Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull.

Speaking in Parliament last week with the Health Minister in the Chamber, Mr Bull said “Minister, we need your help” before outlining examples of the horrendous delays being experienced.

“One patient had a seven-week wait for scan results required after his surgery, only to be told that due to the age of the results he had to go back for another scan, with no guarantee this would not happen again,” Mr Bull told Parliament.

“Another, a cancer patient, had an oncologist appointment 20 days after her scan to discuss the course of action for her treatment. However, when she turned up at the appointment, the oncologist had not received the scans, so the treatment plan could not proceed.

Can you imagine how that poor woman was feeling about that?

“Another gentleman travelled to Melbourne for a specialist appointment, but on arrival, 15 days after the scan was done, the specialist did not have the results, so the appointment could not take place, further delaying his treatment.

“This is frustrating GPs, impacting the health of patients and delaying critical treatments, and I know it is the same at other country health services,” he said.

“We know that the third-party provider IMED is suffering from staff shortages, but it is more of a problem in the country than the city and severely impacts the health outcomes of country people, and it could potentially cost lives.”

In her answer, Minister Thomas said, “I thank the Member for Gippsland East, who raised with me the concerns that his constituents are experiencing getting their imaging done in a timely way – particularly at Bairnsdale, but at other health services in the Gippsland region. It really points to the need for us to think perhaps a little differently about the way in which we can ensure that people in rural and regional Victoria are not disadvantaged by the tyranny of distance, which sometimes plays into the difficulties that we have in getting the right people at the right place in terms of the healthcare workforce”.

“I very much look forward to looking into that and trying to resolve that issue with you, so I thank you very much for that question.”

Mr Bull said he was pleased the Minister then followed him up for a personal discussion on the topic and is hopeful alternate options are being looked at, including one suggestion of partnering country hospitals with city hospitals for a quicker turnaround time.

“However, at the end of the day words only go so far, we need it fixed,” he said.

Caption: State Nationals MP, Tim Bull, has addressed the Health Minister in Parliament seeking to address major medical imaging delays at Bairnsdale Regional Health Service.

Monday, 12 February 2024

Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull, has urged farmers and rural communities to provide feedback on a new Animal Care and Protection Bill being proposed by the Allan Labor Government that would see farmers face big fines and jail time if they fail proposed new minimum care requirements.
“While I support sensible and reasonable animal welfare improvements, we need to make sure this legislation is not imbalanced and serves the extreme views of animal activists.
“Requirements (with little detail) include ensuring animals enjoy ‘appropriate’ exercise, ambient temperatures, correct noise levels, lighting, air quality, shade and shelter. It also states that animals should not be stressed when ‘loading’.
“In addition, it demands animals have opportunities for appropriate interactions with humans and other animals, including ensuring interactions are conducted in a manner that minimises anxiety, fear, pain or distress.
“Failure to meet an appropriate care requirement puts owners at risk of fines in excess of $20,000 or six months imprisonment, or both.”
Mr Bull said that one of his major concerns is that in a briefing on the Bill, he asked some basic questions that could not be answered by the bureaucracy.
“For instance, I asked if a herd was placed into a paddock to eat out a harvested crop area (common practice), could the farmer be fined for not providing shade. The answer was ‘we will have to get back to you’.
“I then asked why a person can be sentenced to jail for using a jigger on a horse, but it was okay on cattle – and I got the same answer.
“Guidelines issued by the Allan Government also use words like ‘reasonable’ and ‘unreasonable’. My issue is, who decides what constitutes this?
“I then asked what constituted the offence of causing harm or distress when loading an animal, and there was no clear response to that either.”
Mr Bull said he was concerned who would determine what was ‘appropriate’ or ‘inappropriate’.
“We have seen some of the sentences handed down by animal activist sympathising judges in the past.
“It is clear the government has also done little consultation with farmers and farming groups in the preparation of this. These men and women should have been given a much greater say in the preparation of the draft legislation.
“The public has until March 8 to provide a response to this draft legislation and can do so on https://engage.vic.gov.au/new-animal-welfare-act-victoria “.
“I urge everyone who has an interest – and that should be all of us – to take some time to read the draft bill and consultation documents on the above website and make a submission,” he said.

Monday, 5 February 2024