A patient at Albury Wodonga Health faced severe health complications, including gangrene and sepsis, following a four-day delay for surgery. This incident came to light during a parliamentary session on October 27, 2023, where Indi MP Helen Haines addressed the urgent need for improved healthcare infrastructure in regional areas.
Haines highlighted the case of a man, whose daughter Elise contacted her regarding her father’s situation. The delay resulted in the patient being placed in an intensive care unit on a ventilator due to complications from a gangrenous gall bladder. “Thankfully, he survived,” Haines noted, emphasizing that the staff at Albury Wodonga Health demonstrated remarkable dedication and skill despite the circumstances.
The delay was attributed to a shortage of operating theatres in the region, with only seven available between Albury and Wodonga hospitals. Haines described this as “an absolutely appalling situation,” arguing that the area requires an additional thirteen operating theatres to adequately serve the community’s healthcare needs.
In response to this alarming situation, Haines introduced a motion calling for the establishment of a $2 billion Building Regional and Rural Hospitals Fund. This fund would aim to provide competitive and needs-based investments in hospital infrastructure, equipment, and planning for regional, rural, and remote areas classified as MM2 and higher. Haines asserted that such funding is crucial for meeting the current and future healthcare needs of these communities.
The motion garnered support from fellow independent MP Andrew Wilkie, who echoed Haines’ concerns regarding healthcare disparities between urban and rural populations. “It’s unacceptable that, in a country as rich as Australia, rural Australians receive $1,090 less healthcare funding per person each year than city residents,” Wilkie stated. He pointed out that the National Rural Health Alliance estimates this funding shortfall to exceed $8 billion annually, resulting in longer wait times and inadequate healthcare services in rural areas.
Opposition leader and Farrer MP Sussan Ley provided a measured response to Haines’ proposal. While she expressed support for increased investment in regional hospitals, she declined to endorse the specific fund. Ley remarked, “It’s the Albanese government which is still fighting with NSW and Victoria on an increase in hospitals funding; they have also knocked back every single request for more money to spend at Albury.”
The discussion continued with Trish Cook, a Labor MP from Western Australia, addressing Haines’ motion in the Federation Chamber. While Cook acknowledged the importance of the issues raised, she emphasized the government’s ongoing initiatives, including a record $1.8 billion allocated for public hospitals and commitments to a new five-year National Health Reform Agreement aimed at providing long-term funding certainty.
Haines’ motion is now positioned for further consideration by the federal government. The MP plans to seek support from both the Treasurer and the Health Minister to advance the proposal, reflecting a growing recognition of the healthcare challenges faced by regional communities across Australia. As the situation unfolds, the urgency for action to improve healthcare access and infrastructure in rural areas remains a pressing concern for many Australians.
