Government axe falls on Peel mobile medical service

The Peel Mobile Health Service, which provides medical and psychological services to the elderly and youth in remote locations, was informed of the decision in a letter from the South Metropolitan Health Service at the beginning of April.

The van run by the service delivered general practice medicine, clinics for homeless teenagers, counselling to those affected by the Waroona-Yarloop bushfires, and child and adolescent mental health services.

However, the health department said in the letter axing the funding that there was a “duplication of services”.

Peel Health Foundation chairwoman Ann Fletcher, who was instrumental in establishing the service, said the decision was nonsense.

“It [the Peel Mobile Health Service] has more than proven itself; the desire was to reach people in the outer rural areas of Peel,” she said.

“We held a lot of public forums and a lot of people said everything was centrally in Mandurah and people had to get to services in Mandurah and for a lot of people that’s a difficulty in itself.

“It’s not rocket science, it’s so simplistic, but it’s such a great service and it’s a nonsense that it should not continue.

“It’s ludicrous that anyone would even consider cutting it, what they should be thinking of is how can we replicate this model, how can we take it to the Kimberley, how can we take it to the Pilbara.”

Denise Puddock from GP down south, who manages the service, said she was disappointed the van would no longer be funded.

“We believe that over the past five years this service has demonstrated its value to the Peel community and has become an integral part of the fabric of some communities,” she said.

“We will continue to work hard to identify alternative funding in order to provide continuation of service for the region.”

The decision to axe the service received an angry reception from local members of parliament.

Murray-Wellington MP Robyn Clarke said she was mortified at the decision.

“This is an essential service particularly in the Murray-Wellington region,” she said.

“It services Waroona and Pinjarra and it’s just not acceptable that this service is being stopped. We do not want this service to stop.”

She said she had already contacted health minister Roger Cook to ask him to overturn the decision.

“David Templeman and myself are fighting to ensure this service continues,” she said.

“It’s the South Metropolitan Department of Health, we had no say over it, they just pulled the pin on it and it was done very abruptly.”

Mandurah MP David Templeman said he would would approach Mr Cook to have the decision re-assessed.

“We’re asking Roger to re-assess this decision and as far as we’re concerned, Robyn and I want the grant to continue,” he said.

“I don’t know who is responsible from the South Metro health service in terms of recommending that they make the decision, but as far as I’m concerned, the minister needs to be aware of how important it is and Robyn and I are firmly together on requesting that it continue.”

Federal MP Andrew Hastie, whose electorate is covered by the service, blasted the decision, saying the van would have been used to provide youth mental health services and suicide prevention programs.

“We have limited public transport services in Dwellingup, Waroona, Pinjarra and if kids can’t get to the new PYMS [Peel Youth Medical Service] health hub in Mandurah, and the state government has axed the van, then how are we going to reach those kids?” he said.

“To quote David Templeman, ‘we are the forgotten people and they’ve speared us through the heart’.”

Mr Hastie had a firm message for the state government.

“Think very carefully about the Peel region and what you do over the next few months,” he said.

“They shouldn’t be cutting services that people rely upon.

“It’s an indicator that their priorities aren’t as clear in regional areas as they claimed they would be.”

Health minister Roger Cook said the government was still working through the budget process but did not comment specifically on the Peel Mobile Health Service.

“The state government stands by the commitments made in opposition to improve health care in Western Australia,” he said.

“In the early weeks since being elected, the government is working to determine how and when each of its commitments can be implemented – including through the budget process.

“Funding priorities will be considered as part of the budget process.”