“To do so, it is essential that we continually review our site usage, service demand and locations.”
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McLeod said the changes would allow patients to access a broader range of services at busier sites while delivering cost savings in the form of fewer leases, energy bills and cleaning costs.
Two sources with links to the Clarinda site – speaking on condition of anonymity – said they were worried about relatives’ capacity to attend future appointments given they didn’t drive and couldn’t afford regular taxi trips.
No GP services are offered at BHN’s Clarinda and Bentleigh centres. However, the sites do provide allied health, mental health, alcohol and drug services.
Earlier this month, cohealth – a separate community health provider – said it would have to stop providing GP and counselling services at its Kensington, Fitzroy and Collingwood clinics due to the “gap” between Medicare rebates, state infrastructure funding and operating costs.
The Victorian Greens on Wednesday successfully moved a motion in state parliament calling on the government to step in with an emergency package for cohealth, with $4 million to save GP and counselling services and at least $25 million to upgrade the Collingwood site. The motion was supported by the Coalition and members of the crossbench. Labor MPs did not oppose the motion.
“Cohealth’s closure will be disastrous in the immediate and long-term future and will result in increased poverty, disadvantage, poor health and hospital overloading,” the motion read.
The Greens have pointed out that 0.3 per cent of Victoria’s $2 billion health infrastructure spend goes to community and not-for-profit providers despite their critical role in the system.
Infrastructure Victoria, the state’s independent infrastructure advisory body, has recommended the government increase that figure to 3 per cent.
“Where are these people going to go for their health services?” Greens leader Ellen Sandell said of the situation with cohealth. “They will lose access to health services. It’s already almost impossible to get a GP appointment, let alone a bulk-billed one, and they’ll end up in our already overrun hospitals.”
Kensington cohealth patient Geoff said a GP at the centre 14 years ago looked at a lump on his neck and booked an appointment for him to have a biopsy the next morning. He doesn’t know where he’ll go when GPs leave the facility in December.
Richmond Greens MP Gabrielle De Vietri (left) and Greens leader Ellen Sandell (right) with cohealth patients.Credit: Eddie Jim
“It’s devastating to me as a patient.”
There was an outpouring of public anger at Fitzroy Town Hall last Friday after The Age broke the news of the changes coming to cohealth.
More than 500 furious locals filled the hall to hear from councillors, GPs, cohealth patients and local state and federal members. Yarra City Council was unprepared for the mass turnout – more than 100 people were left outside, unable to get in.
Public housing tenant and cohealth patient Aisha Darawish described how cohealth saved her son’s life when he was born prematurely at 25 weeks, 13 years ago. She recounted how staff cared for her while his twin died.
Deputy Yarra Mayor Sarah McKenzie, an ALP member, addresses the meeting on Friday.Credit: Eddie Jim
Darawish, a patient of 28 years, had no idea she was pregnant. She recalled the day she spent at the clinic where nurses and doctors ran test after test to find out why she was ill.
“At the end, they found out I was pregnant. There was one [alive baby] in there,” she said. “Cohealth is part of me, part of my family.”
Yarra Mayor Stephen Jolly – a Victorian Socialist member turned independent – said there was a big difference between hardworking cohealth staff and the organisation’s board and executives, whom he accused of “squandering money” for the past two years.
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Richmond MP and Greens member Gabrielle De Vietri said she was concerned to hear any “attempts to shift the heat off the government and point the finger at cohealth”.
“We must be pointing firmly at the state and federal Labor governments, because it is their responsibility to fund our community health sector. And if they can afford $350 million for a corporate pit upgrade at the grand prix, then they can afford to fund our community health centres.“
A cohealth spokesperson rejected Jolly’s claim of “squandered” money.
“The support needed by our clients cannot fit into the short, simple consultations that keep most bulk-billing clinics financially afloat. Our approach integrates physical, mental, and social supports while addressing broader determinants of health.”
Labor is hopeful it can win back the state seat of Richmond – which takes in the suburbs of Fitzroy and Collingwood – at next year’s election if the Liberals put Labor higher than the Greens on their how-to-vote cards.
But one Labor source, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the party needed to come up with a solution for cohealth if it was serious about winning the seat back from De Vietri.
“If this doesn’t get fixed, we’re in trouble.”
An Allan government spokesperson declined to say whether the government would adopt the Greens’ proposal for a $29 million emergency funding package.
Instead, a spokesperson said: “Community health organisations play an important role and we continue to provide them with significant funding, investing $188 million last year alone to support the delivery of care across the state.”
Federal Labor MP for Melbourne Sarah Witty and her colleague Jo Briskey, who represents the federal seat of Maribyrnong, also spoke at Friday’s Fitzroy Town Hall meeting.
Witty said she had spoken with the federal health minister’s office and reported that the minister wanted a review of cohealth before “making a decision on whether it is right for the government to spend taxpayers’ money on a model that may not work”.
State opposition health spokeswoman Georgie Crozier said she was concerned for continuity of care and Victorian Labor’s ability to fund an emergency package given the state’s budget.
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