2 April 2025
Major parties have no plan for long-term regional healthcare delivery: Chapman
Independent candidate for Forrest Sue Chapman is disappointed, but unsurprised, that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese snubbed regional health services in favour of a hospital in Perth’s eastern suburbs.
The Prime Minister was in Perth on Monday to announce $200 million towards an upgrade to the St John of God Midland Public Hospital, alongside WA Premier Roger Cook, in the must-win Labor seat of Hasluck.
“As a doctor in the South West for the last 25 years, I’ve watched the decline in investment in our smaller regional health services, despite our growing population,” Dr Chapman said.
“While the Prime Minister flies in to announce funding for a city hospital that’s less than ten years old, our small regional hospitals fall further behind. They need infrastructure upgrades and more bed capacity.
“The expansion of Bunbury Hospital is long-overdue and much-needed, but Premier Cook is wrong when he says one hospital can meet the needs for the whole region. Healthy communities need quality, affordable healthcare close to where they live.
“I will work collaboratively with all levels of government, hospital executives, healthcare service providers and local communities to find solutions to the health challenges we’re facing right now, including workforce shortages.
“Together, we must start planning, and I mean comprehensively mapping out, what the future of healthcare looks like in the South West. We have rapidly growing residential populations, as well as strong tourism visitation that swells the number of hospital presentations at key times of the year.
“Our state and federal governments had no problem building a huge freeway to ferry people a few minutes faster from Perth to our world-class tourism destinations. Yet, they turn a blind eye to the genuine concerns of our local communities when it comes to accessing quality regional healthcare.
“We need health funding certainty from both the state and federal governments to secure new medical centres in our growth areas and a long-term plan for training and retaining frontline healthcare workers across the region.
“Attracting skilled healthcare professionals requires planning and investment in the South West. The federal budget allocated funding to expand GP training, I will work to ensure the South West gets its fair share of these placements.
“As we get closer to the federal election, I remain focused on championing solutions for our regional and rural communities. The South West cannot reach its full potential unless the people who live here have access to the healthcare they deserve.
“Twenty five years ago, I moved to the South West to start the first urology practice outside of Perth. I've spent my career finding solutions to healthcare problems and delivering results. I want to help set up our communities to thrive now, and long into the future. As the Independent Member for Forrest, I’ll be fighting for regional healthcare that’s well-resourced and delivered close to home.”
ENDS