News

Rural Victorians have health needs too

Friday 17 May 2019

Ovens Valley Nationals MP Tim McCurdy has called on Daniel Andrews to fund dialysis at Cobram District Health in the forthcoming budget.

Mr McCurdy has been working with many families who require dialysis multiple times a week and have to travel to other centres such as Shepparton, Echuca and beyond to get access to a service.

“Sometimes there are no placements available in other towns and if there is availability some of these patients travel up to 600 kilometres a week to get there,” Mr McCurdy said.

“At least four dialysis chairs would change the daily routines and lives for many families in the Cobram region.”

Mr McCurdy said that Labor has made at least four announcements in the past two weeks regarding significant improvements to health services – all of which are located Melbourne’s western suburbs.

“Cobram and its surrounding localities are a large enough region to justify this service,” he said.

“And Cobram District Health is an excellent community hospital which can deliver this import service to our community members in need.”

Mr McCurdy said the Andrews Government has an opportunity to look beyond the western suburbs of Melbourne, and allocate money in this year’s state budget to support regional centres like Cobram.

“The postponed budget due to be handed down on the 27 May will hopefully secure health funding and support for our rural communities,” he said.