Health service denies wastage

CLAIMS taxpayers’ dollars will be wasted if Eastern Ranges After-hours GP Service moves to a private facility have been refuted by Eastern Ranges CEO Kirsten Michaels.
Ms Michael’s confirmed last week that the Federal Government-funded After-hours GP Service currently based at Healesville Hospital was negotiating to rent new premises.
But she would not comment on the suggestions they had by-passed an available purpose-built GP facility at the rear of the hospital.
The facilitiy, also taxpayer-funded is operated by Eastern Health.
Natalie Sullivan, Yarra Ranges region general manager for Eastern Health told the Mail the new facility had been offered to Eastern Rages GP Association for after hours use.
“The new facilities can accommodate both day and after-hours services making optimal use of the facilities,” she said.
She said retaining the after-hours service on hospital grounds would further simplify public access to health services by providing one point of entry to GP services in the community.
Ms Michael, however, said while the facility had been considered, it was not the preferred option.
She would not, however, say why.
Ms Michael said while being located at the hospital had provided some benefits the aim was to provide the best service within the budget set by the Federal Government.
“In any situation we will be paying rent and whether it’s private or not doesn’t matter – someone is going to set a price for it,” she said.
McEwen MP Fran Bailey who fought for funding for the service said she had been assured that the after hours service would continue to be delivered but she understood negotiations were underway between the Eastern Ranges GP Association and a new landlord.
“The $640,000 Australia Government funding which I secured last year for the provision of this service remains intact and will continue to be used to provide after hours GP services for our community,” she said.