HUNTER LABOR MPs SLAM GOVERNMENT OVER GP ACCESS SNUB

The Hunter’s four federal Labor MPs have slammed the Abbott Government after the GP Access service was not funded in last night’s budget.

The service has operated for more than a decade in the Hunter, providing patients with after hours access to GPs, without the need to go to hospital emergency wards. It operates clinics at five hospitals across the Hunter.

The MPs say the service, which needed $21-million over three years, will be forced to close its doors next month.

Member for Newcastle, Sharon Claydon said: “The high-quality patient care that GP Access provides after-hours is a vital service in my community.”

“Tony Abbott has completely abandoned the service which will have a profound negative impact for our community and will place significant pressure on local hospital emergency departments.”

Member for Hunter, Joel Fitzgibbon said: “GP Access started in Maitland more than a decade ago and has helped to keep tens of thousands of people out of hospitals across the region.”

“Our community will suffer because of the short-sightedness of this Government who are truly out of touch with the Hunter.”

Member for Shortland, Jill Hall said: “We know that kids don’t necessarily get sick at a time that suits GP opening hours, so it’s vital that we have a reliable after-hours bulk-billing service in our community.”

“I fear that without GP Access, emergency department waiting times will increase and we will see more hospital admissions for acute illnesses that could have been treated effectively by a GP.”

The service sees about 50,000 patients a year.