Sheed calls for a surge medical workforce for regional hospitals

Independent Member for Shepparton District Suzanna Sheed raised the issue of staff shortages in regional hospitals during her adjournment debate in parliament this week.

Ms Sheed asked the Health Minister Martin Foley for his department to provide northern Victorian hospitals with the necessary extra staff and outlined the burnout faced by local medical staff.

Quoting from the social media of the Goulburn Valley Health, Albury-Wodonga Health, and Northeast Health Wangaratta, Ms Sheed highlighted that patients faced long delays, especially in the emergency room.

“To keep our regional hospitals functioning and able to provide the critical services required by our communities, a surge workforce needs to be provided to them immediately,” Ms Sheed said.

“In regional areas there is no capacity to access staff such as doctors and nurses from other hospitals nearby as is possible in metropolitan areas.

“My office has spoken to health staff (who are) at their wits’ end with the staff shortage.

“They are burnt out and exhausted.

“One nurse who said she had never been closer to quitting in her long career, confirmed that we urgently needed more staff.”

Ms Sheed welcomed the Victorian Government’s substantial investment in the Shepparton District’s health system but said the critical issue was the shortage of the medical staff.

 

ENDS

Media contact

Elaine Cooney 0447 820 466 |elaine.cooney@parliament.vic.gov.au

 

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