Conversation over the need for investment in Peel Health Campus (PHC) is reaching fever pitch, with Liberal politicians calling for action from the State Government and the Health Minister to hear from industry experts at a forum in Mandurah next week.
The Mandurah Mail started a campaign earlier this year calling for added infrastructure and more funding at the hospital.
Since then it has been reported PHC has some of the longest emergency department wait times in the metropolitan area.
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Health Minister Roger Cook will be joined by 5o stakeholders at the Peel roundtable event on September 19, with Mandurah MP David Templeman to facilitate the forum.
Key issues to be explored and discussed include the Peel region’s key future health needs and the priority actions necessary to plan for the needs.
Mr Cook said the Peel region had been identified as a pressure point in the health system.
“Fifty key stakeholders including representatives from hospitals, non-government organisations, health-sector agencies, universities and community groups who represent the interests of the Peel region have been invited to attend,” he said
“I’m looking forward to hearing firsthand about their experiences - the roundtable will work to identify the priority actions required to address the needs of the Peel region.”
Mr Templeman said he hoped the forum would “clearly highlight the current challenges and deficiencies that exist with regard to provision of health services and garner possible solutions, including funding, to address immediate pressure points.”
Dawesville MP Zak Kirkup and Canning MP Andrew Hastie organised the Peel Health Rally in March to highlight the need for funding.
Mr Hastie said hundreds of people have signed petitions, written letters and contacted their state representatives in relation to the issue since – and new signage calling for Government action at PHC was available for residents from his office.
“It’s been over 130 days since the rally, yet the Labor Government has done nothing. We need more beds, better infrastructure and better care for the people of the Peel region,” he said.
“The federal government invested an extra $170 million into WA hospitals this year, but that money was distributed according to the state government’s priorities. The Peel Health Campus didn’t get a cent. They’ve since put up some money for a carpark, but nothing for actual hospital services.”
Mr Kirkup said the fault did not lie with the “fantastic” staff, but a Government response was needed.
“Labor’s lack of action is simply unacceptable,” he said.
“We still lack the vital services expected in a city of over 80,000 people. Our pensioners and elderly still lack easy access to important treatments.”
”The Minister needs to understand how serious this community is – we need action.”
E-mail your opinion on this issue to editor.mandurahmail@fairfaxmedia.com.au.