Assistant Health Minister to visit Hinkler

The Federal Assistant Minister for Health, Dr David Gillespie will meet with stakeholders and visit health facilities in Bundaberg at the invitation of Federal Member for Hinkler Keith Pitt, to discuss health in the region.

“Dr Gillespie is keen to speak with local health professionals and it’s a valuable opportunity for stakeholders to raise their concerns directly with the Minister – a medical professional of some 33 years who has worked in rural and regional Australia,” Mr Pitt said.

“Ensuring that rural Australians have access to high quality health care is a key priority for the Coalition Government, and a number of programs are underway right now to achieve that.”

Dr Gillespie said that with the appropriate training opportunities, recruitment and ongoing support, the Government is confident that more young doctors will be encouraged to pursue a rewarding career in regional health.

“As a practitioner, I know how much it means to be consulted, to be listened to and to be included in solutions,” Dr Gillespie said.

“Keith has insisted we address some of these local issues and I am pleased to say that Keith has brought me here today and I am keen to hear from doctors and patients about the problems they are having now and what we may be able to do to attract more doctors for the future.”

“Keith and I both believe that people living in regional communities make an enormous contribution to our national economy, and to the culture and character of Australia. Access to a quality standard of health care is what they deserve and are entitled to expect.”

Dr Gillespie and Mr Pitt will also attend tonight’s launch of the HealthPathways website – an initiative of the Wide Bay by Central Queensland, Wide Bay, Sunshine Coast PHN.

HealthPathways is a website designed for medical practitioners to help direct their patients to the appropriate referral services.

“It’s great to see the PHN working together with the Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service and local GPs to make a real difference to the health care that patients in this region receive,” Mr Pitt said.

Dr Gillespie commended the Central Queensland, Wide Bay, Sunshine Coast PHN for the initiative which puts patients first.

“Sharing this knowledge among local GPs and health professionals is a great use of resources and will no doubt make the referral process a smoother one for patients,” he said.

During his visit to Bundaberg, Dr Gillespie will also visit the Friendly Society Private Hospital.