Recent meetings between local MPs and healthcare providers in the north-east have highlighted accessibility concerns.

State Member for Euroa Annabelle Cleeland, state Member for Northern Victoria Gaelle Broad and Shadow Minister for Health George Crozier met with senior executives at Bendigo Health, the Pharmacy Guild of Australia and local GPs.

“We had a series of very constructive meetings with local health providers, discussing some of the difficulties that our health system is facing — particularly in our regional towns,” Ms Cleeland said.

“Years of waste, mismanagement and underinvestment in our health services under Labor have meant too many Victorians suffer tragic health outcomes.

“Too many Victorians are waiting too long to be cared for, particularly in regional areas, and crucial services continue to be cut.

“Labor’s financial mismanagement is having a direct impact on frontline services and patient outcomes are suffering.“

Ms Cleeland identified a range of issues faced by regional Victorians when accessing the healthcare system.

These challenges include:

In response to Ms Cleeland’s comments, a Victorian Government spokesperson said Labor was committed to delivering new services throughout the state.

“We won’t be taking lectures from the Liberal Nationals — the same party that went to war with our paramedics, cut health services and stood by while their federal colleagues gutted primary care,” the spokesperson said.

“Clearly, she has forgotten which party saved the Euroa Bush Hospital from closing in 2024 by bringing it into public hands.

“It was Labor.

“While the opposition talks, we’re getting on with the job — delivering new hospitals, boosting ambulance services, recruiting more doctors and nurses, and investing record funding into our health system every year.”

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Sunday, 20th July 2025

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