Cathy Pares in our Mid North Coast office has her finger on the healthcare pulse as a true regional lawyer, having lived in the Manning Valley for in excess of 20 years.
As such, Cathy is critically aware of the healthcare crisis that family, friends, colleagues and other regional patients face on a daily basis.
The news that independent candidate for Myall Lakes Dr Jason Bendall, senior staff specialist anaesthetist at Mannning Base Hospital, launched his campaign outside the hospital with the healthcare crisis front and centre of his campaign, was welcomed in our Mid North Coast office.
The Myall Lakes electorate covers areas such as Forster/Tuncurry, Bulahdelah, Nabiac, Pacific Palms, Taree and Hallidays Point.
Dr Bendall called for the State government to be transparent in their funding decisions for healthcare in regional locations like the Manning and Great Lakes communities.
“There are not enough beds, not enough operating theatres, the emergency department is overflowing, and Myall Lakes residents are missing out on fair healthcare due to inadequate funding”.
Dr Bendall explained that the lack of operating theatres “makes it impossible to attract surgeons to live and work in the community” and “this is about the government providing the minimum service that this electorate needs”.
Dr Bendall recognised that there has been some large investments in regional healthcare but “Myall Lakes gets a trickle of the overall funding and well below what others are getting on a per capita or needs basis”.
He was critical of healthcare decisions that seem more politically motivated than based on the actual health needs of the community.
Just as Cathy is all too aware of the inequities that are evident in her local communities, Dr Bendall acknowledged that the public are calling for “bold change” on not just healthcare, but housing and the cost of living as well.
We will watch with interest as campaigns continue in the lead up to the NSW State Election in March.
The article can be viewed by clicking here.
