Dear Editor,
Patients across the Peninsula and Bass Coast are set to wait longer to access vital healthcare as Kooweerup and Peninsula Health are merged with The Alfred in Melbourne.
Despite Premier Allan and Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas promise of no mergers, the 3 hospitals are set to merge from 1 January 2026.
Removing local decision-making from local hospitals is only detrimental for patients and the staff in those health services. Local control must be maintained.
After a decade in government, all Labor has delivered is a health system in crisis with all regional hospitals failing to meet emergency wait time targets.
Regional Victorians deserve better.
It’s time to put patients first.
Labor can’t manage health and regional Victorians are paying the price.
Melina Bath MP
