Nationals Member for Euroa Annabelle Cleeland has attended an event with the Royal Flying Doctor Service, stressing the need for their support in the face of cuts to regional health services.
The Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) community transport program is currently facing funding challenges, and Ms Cleeland says that the small investment they require would make an enormous difference for the health outcomes of people across the state.
“Providing funding for the RFDS community transport program should be a non-negotiable,” Ms Cleeland said.
“With their funding set to expire at the end of the year, investment into this volunteer service will allow vulnerable and isolated people, who do not have access to public transport, to get to crucial health appointments or social groups.
“We’ve already seen this program have a profound impact within my electorate, with nearly 20,000 trips being completed in Heathcote.
“For many of these patients being helped, this would be financially and practically impossible.
“To say this service has helped improve the health and wellbeing of our community is an absolute understatement. They genuinely help to save lives.”
As things stand, Australians who live in regional, rural, and remote areas face increased rates of mortality, preventable hospitalisation, and have a higher likelihood of dealing with the burden of disease.
Statistics released by the RFDS paint an alarming picture for those in rural and remote areas.
- People in very remote areas were 2.7 times more likely to die from potentially avoidable causes (1.8 times for remote areas) compared to people in major cities.
- Compared to people in major cities, people in remote and very remote areas are 2.9 times more likely to be hospitalised, and 2.8 times more likely for reasons that were potentially preventable.
Ms Cleeland said while health services continued to be cut within Victoria, supporting community programs like RFDS were crucial to providing better health outcomes for regional communities.
“Years of waste, mismanagement, and underinvestment in our health services under Labor have meant too many Victorians suffer tragic health outcomes,” Ms Cleeland said.
“I implore this Government to ensure this program does not join the long list of cuts for our regional health services.”