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Health | November 24, 2023

Victorians dying each week waiting for critical surgery

A tragic number of Victorians are dying while waiting for critical surgery as the dire state of Victoria’s health system under the Allan Government is further exposed.

Under questioning from the Liberals and Nationals during Public Accounts and Estimates Committee (PAEC) hearings this week, Department of Health officials confirmed:

• 1,395 Victorians were removed from the elective surgery waitlist because they died during 2022-23.  
• 20 Victorians died due to Ambulance Victoria failures across the 24 months to June 2023.  
• 18,988 taxi trips were used to transport Victorian patients because an ambulance was not available.
• 9,520 nurses left the industry during 2022, up from 7,067 in 2021 – an increase of 34 per cent.

Deputy Leader of The Nationals and Member for Lowan Emma Kealy said the figures were deeply concerning and highlighted the crisis across Victoria’s health system under the Allan Government.

“Years of waste, mismanagement, and underinvestment in our health system by Labor has led to too many Victorians suffering tragic health outcomes.   

“This is not a healthcare crisis caused by COVID – the Victorian healthcare system was in crisis well before the COVID pandemic began.

“What we are seeing is Victorians continuing to be punished for the incompetence of the Labor Government.

“Premier Allan can’t manage money, can’t manage projects and can’t manage our crumbling health system.

“Victoria’s health system is on life support and Labor needs to take urgent action to address our health crisis and ensure all Victorians have access to the healthcare they deserve.”