By Alesha Capone
HEALTH services in the Keilor district are not able to meet the needs of women and the wider community, according to a new report.
The report, commissioned by Keilor MP Natalie Hutchins, assessed the “adequacy and accessibility of women’s health and well-being services in Keilor” which includes Hillside, Keilor Downs, Keilor Lodge, Keilor North, Taylors Hill, Taylors Lakes, Sydenham and parts of Caroline Springs and Keilor.
“The key findings of this report are that current health and well-being services within the seat of Keilor are not able to meet the needs of women and the broader community,” the report said.
“There are significantly less general practitioners and health service providers per population than state and metropolitan averages.”
“There are also fewer female GPs within Keilor compared to state and Australian averages.
“There is evidence to suggest women within Keilor are visiting areas outside the district to access medical care and general practitioners.
“This poses significant challenges for the community, as service provision has not kept pace with population growth.”
In addition, Ms Hutchins said there was no Medicare centre in Keilor and residents were forced to seek their rebates in Sunshine, Airport West or online.
Figures in the report, taken from the Brimbank City Council Plan 2010/2014, showed Brimbank had a lower rate of health providers compared to the Western Metropolitan Region, Melbourne Metropolitan and Victorian state averages.
For every 100,000 residents, the area has 104.6 general medical practitioners, compared to the metropolitan average of 184.4; 28.9 specialist medical practitioners compared to 97.6; 413 registered nurses against 772.2; 84.9 welfare and community workers next to 148.4; 20.9 dental practitioners compared to 46.7; 31.4 psychologists next to 67.2 and 28.3 physiotherapists to 56.8.
Ms Hutchins said she hoped to submit the report to Parliament and advocate for the State Government to come up with a health plan for the Western Suburbs, to cope with population growth.
“I think a 24-hour GP clinic based near Sunshine Hospital would be great and take some of the pressure off the hospital’s emergency room,” she said.
Ms Hutchins said locating a Medicare office at Watergardens Shopping Centre would also greatly help the area.
