Parliamentary Speeches
Ballina Electorate Health Services (11/03/2009)
Mr DONALD PAGE (Ballina) [5.56 p.m.]: I outline my concerns about health services in the electorate of Ballina. I want to discuss the apparent doctor shortage at the Ballina, Byron Bay and Mullumbimby hospitals, and the loss of the mobile breast screening vans, which were visiting Ballina and Byron Bay. The media revealed this week that Ballina District Hospital is facing a doctor shortage, leading to the hospital reducing the number of patients it can accept. While I understand that the rosters have been filled for all shifts over the past 12 months, and are covered for March, it would seem that there simply are not enough doctors being rostered on.
Doctors are now very publicly complaining about their excessive workloads and the potential risks to patients. Byron Bay and Mullumbimby hospitals have also stated that they are in danger of not having enough doctors to provide emergency treatment to patients. Should this be the case patients are likely to be diverted to Tweed Heads, as all surrounding hospitals are facing similar doctor shortages. I am extremely concerned about this situation and implore the Minister for Health to urgently allocate the resources required to fix this potentially life-threatening situation. If the situation continues, and emergency patients are diverted from Ballina, Byron Bay or Mullumbimby to Tweed Heads, there will be very real risks to the wellbeing of patients.
Prior to June 2008 mobile breast screen vans visited Ballina and Byron Bay on an annual basis. I am appalled at the decision to cease this vital early cancer detection service in my electorate. I am told it is because a fixed unit was installed at Tweed Heads and that there is an existing unit at Lismore. It appears the New South Wales Labor Government considers that it is acceptable for women in Ballina and Byron Bay to travel to either location to access their free mammogram. Yet in February and April last year former Premier Morris Iemma announced that the New South Wales Government would spend $26 million statewide to upgrade the BreastScreen program. This upgrade included the launch of vans equipped with state-of-the-art digital mammography technology. Where are these vans? Why do communities the size of Byron Bay and Ballina not have access to this mobile technology?
The cessation of this service will result in fewer women being screened for breast cancer in the electorate of Ballina—an outcome that should not be acceptable to anyone. However, the Government seems perfectly happy to justify the removal of this service. The regional areas of New South Wales are suffering death by a thousand cuts to their health services. This is yet another example of the declining state of the New South Wales health system. Breast cancer affects one in eight Australian women. Early detection is the key factor, which determines a woman's survival and recovery from the disease. Every year 12,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer. The aim surely must be to increase the number of women who are screened for breast cancer. Removing the mobile vans from my electorate will certainly result in fewer women accessing their free mammogram.
In an area that virtually has no public transport options, many women will find it difficult or just too hard to go to their nearest screening centre. I believe the vans are still visiting areas that are one hour or more from the nearest fixed unit. There seems to be a presumption that every woman in the Ballina electorate has a car at their disposal or will be able to access public transport to get to and from their nearest screening centre. That is simply not the case. Many women in the target group, that is, 50 to 69 years, are in the workforce. They work nine to five and getting to a regional centre during their lunch hour is impossible. Also, many have family commitments. It is much more convenient for these women to access a mobile breast screening unit if it is readily available in their town. For example, they can visit the unit during their lunch hour if they work or in between their schoolchildren obligations at the beginning and end of each day.
I have been contacted by a number of women in my electorate who are very concerned about the loss of this service, for all the reasons I have mentioned. It now will be much more difficult for them to juggle their busy daily lives and make time for this very important screening process. Up until now it has taken half an hour out of their day to visit a mobile van in Ballina. It will now take a minimum of two hours travel to and from Lismore and to undergo the screening—assuming there is no waiting time. If the breast screening service is readily available women will use it. If it is not, they are much less likely to access it. This means early detection is less likely and the incidence of breast cancer will be higher. Prevention is always better than cure. Reducing the number of mobile breast screen vans is a giant step backwards in the fight against breast cancer. I call on the Minister for Health to review this situation and return this essential health service to the Ballina electorate.
