Candidates, doctors agree: Issue No. 1 on Central Coast is health
The first Central Coast AMA (NSW) Doctors4Health roundtable has been hailed as a success, with local doctors able to lock-down at least some consensus from opposing federal candidates.
On a day where health dominated the election nationally, the AMA (NSW) Roundtable ensured that local candidates had to explain real policy to Central Coast doctors.
Dobell and Robertson are both fiercely-contested marginal electorates on the Coast, but the opposing candidates were willing to come together to hear the concerns of local doctors.
Candidates for Robertson, Deborah O’Neill (ALP) and Darren Jameson (Lib) were there, alongside the sitting member from Dobell, Craig Thompson (ALP). Greens candidate for Dobell, Scott Rickard, was present, but the Liberal candidate for Dobell, John McNamara, was unable to attend.
Dr Brad Cranney from the Toukley Family Practice, Dr John Schulze from Absolute Medical Services (Lisarow), Dr George Miller and Mr Bill Parker from the Central Coast Division of General Practice, Dr Kate Porges, Director of Emergency at Gosford Hospital and Dr Simon Battersby, Director of HDU from Wyong Hospital were able to tell the candidates the main worries they had for their patients.
The key issues raised were a lack of doctors, a shortage of locally-trained clinicians and a need for the Central Coast to manage and control its own health system.
Local doctors were able to gain an assurance by all attending candidates that health is the number one issue on the Central Coast, largely due to an aging population.
“When it comes to health, if you want to pick an area that will look like the rest of Australia will look in 10 to 15 years time – then the Central Coast is that area,” Mr Thompson said.
“As I’ve been doorknocking through the electorate, the most common comment I get – unsolicited by me – is ‘I am concerned about health’,” Ms O’Neill added.
All major candidates agreed that the Central Coast needed strong local control, and a greater influx of GPs.
“GPs are the gatekeepers of the hospital system – if they are able to do their work then we can keep people out of hospital,” Mr Jameson said.
AMA National Vice President Dr Steve Hambleton, who chaired yesterday’s roundtable, said it was fantastic to get candidates in the same room with doctors to hear their concerns.
“To get bipartisan consensus that control needs to be localised on the Central Coast is a great step forward,” he said.
Media Contact: Anil Lambert 0432 828 006
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