The data showed that as of January 2024, 41 of Victoria’s 75 health services did not meet the industry benchmark for operating expenses, while hospitals in the state had amassed a record $1.5 billion deficit.
As the budget announcement neared, Ms Cleeland said the government must not cut funding from regional health services, many of which were already under pressure.
“Hospitals across the region have already reached out to me saying they are concerned about potential cuts to their funding in the upcoming budget,” she said.
“Many have stated that they are already being told to cut services and staff despite operating with healthy reserves.
“To me, it seems like this government is now suggesting further cuts to regional health services in order to compensate for the overspending in Melbourne.”
A Victorian Government spokesperson said it was working hard to deliver more free healthcare to the community of Euroa – transitioning the acute services of the privately run Euroa Bush Nursing Hospital to the public health system and making critical infrastructure upgrades.
“Health services right across Australia and the world have experienced unprecedented pressure on operating costs and workforce as a result of COVID-19 pandemic,” the spokesperson said.
“That is why we’ve made record investments to ensure they can keep delivering world-class care to Victorians.
“Victorians rightly expect us to prioritise the frontline health services they need, and that is what we have done — streamlining back-of-house functions will not impact our frontline health workers.”
Ms Cleeland raised the issue during the most recent sitting of parliament, emphasising the need for funding security in regional communities.
She said health services in the Euroa electorate continued to lag behind those in the rest of the state, with significantly delayed ambulance response times, out-of-control GP wait lists and a general lack of resourcing.
“The last thing they need is further cuts,” Ms Cleeland said.
Ambulance response times in the region are one of the particular concerns raised.
The statewide median response time is just under nine minutes for life-threatening cases.
Still, in Benalla and the Mitchell local government areas, the expected wait time is at least 50 per cent longer, with median response times of 14 minutes.
“These extra minutes of waiting for urgent support feel like an eternity during an emergency, and they can truly be the difference between life and death,” Ms Cleeland said.
She also pointed out the need for more resources to be provided to healthcare providers across the region.
“Benalla is without a dialysis facility despite frequent appeals to this government, Nexus in Kilmore is dependent on community funding, maternity facilities in Heathcote are non-existent, urgent care beds in Seymour are under threat and the closest PET scan machine is in the next electorate,” Ms Cleeland said.
“The lack of investment in our region has made it increasingly difficult for people to access reliable health services in their own community.”
