Aged care, GP funding and the necessary growth of Campbelltown Hospital - key issues
Aged care, GP funding and the necessary growth of Campbelltown Hospital have emerged as the key issues at the second Doctors4Health roundtable held by the AMA (NSW) in the critical marginal South West Sydney seat of Macarthur.
Local doctors met with candidates at the Campbelltown Catholic Club last night to discuss the major health issues of South West Sydney.
Labor candidate Nick Bleasdale and his Liberal opponent Russell Matheson were joined by a mix of GPs and hospital doctors for a meeting chaired by AMA National President Andrew Pesce.
A pressing need for improvements to aged care emerged as the key issue of the night, with local GP, Dr Jane Gray, warning of an “oncoming tsunami” to Macarthur.
“Working with the aged isn’t glamorous, it’s not sexy, but it’s absolutely vital especially here in Macarthur,” she said.
Both candidates agreed to the need for better support for GPs to help with aged care.
Also on the agenda were urgent upgrades to Campbelltown Hospital.
Professor Brad Frankum, a physician at the hospital, told the candidates that Campbelltown Hospital is one of the busiest teaching hospitals in NSW and needs to grow fast.
“Campbelltown needs to have 650 beds within ten years – or we’re not going to survive,” he told the candidates.
“We can’t expect Liverpool to support us, it’s struggling to keep up with its own workload.
“If we build another kids hospital it needs to be in Campbelltown. Westmead and Randwick can’t cope.”
The candidates left the meeting with a firsthand understanding of the importance of ensuring local doctors are given a direct opportunity to advise on local solutions for their community.
Next week, the AMA (NSW) will be holding the last of its Doctors4Health roundtables in the seat of Bennelong.
Media Contacts: Tanzeem Parkar 0419 402 955 / Anil Lambert 0432 828 006
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