My constituency question is addressed to the Minister for Health in the other place.
I ask the minister: how will this Andrews Labor government address and prioritise a response to the severe and life-threatening delays faced by patients requiring surgery within the public health system?
A constituent in an acute state of distress made contact with my office just two weeks ago.
The constituent advised me that their partner was diagnosed with cancer of the pancreas and required urgent surgery.
When advised that a delay of 90 days would be expected for this procedure within the public health system, the pensioned couple were effectively forced to choose between taking on significant financial hardship or risking the almost certain progression of the cancer.
They chose financial hardship, just as anyone would do in that situation to protect the health of their loved one.
