Dai Le (Fowler, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I still remember visiting Fairfield Hospital back in 2019. I was really shocked to learn that the hospital's doctors and nurses were still using clipboards and writing patients' details by hand. Why? The answer was that they had no wi-fi and no electronic records. The hospital didn't have enough electricity capacity or load to support it. I couldn't believe it. In modern Australia, our frontline health workers were relying on pen and paper. I fought for change, and today Fairfield Hospital is better, with upgraded technology that helps doctors and nurses care for patients more efficiently. But the truth is that we still have a long way to go. Fairfield Hospital still doesn't have an MRI machine. Patients are still being sent to Liverpool Hospital, which is already overcrowded. And our hand clinic—one of the only ones serving not just Western Sydney but the entire Pacific region—is operating in a demountable. A temporary structure is being used for critical healthcare service. The New South Wales Labor government promised $500 million for Fairfield Hospital in 2023. But, instead of funding urgently needed improvements, most of that money is going towards yet another master plan. Our community don't need a master plan; we need action.

Then there's Medicare. When Medicare was introduced in the 1980s, it was groundbreaking. It meant Australians could see a doctor without worrying about costs. But, today, it's broken. Doctors are struggling to keep their clinics open. Patients are struggling to afford a visit. Here's the reality: bulk-billing rates in New South Wales have dropped to 37.2 per cent. The average out-of-pocket fee is now about $42.44. And 37 per cent of doctors are charging over $90 for a 20-minute consultation. But there's something we don't talk enough about. A doctor's consultation isn't always 10 minutes. Medical science has advanced. We now understand complex diseases that take time to diagnose. In a community like Fowler, a doctor's visit isn't just about symptoms; it's about trust. Patients don't walk in and immediately list their symptoms; they talk about family, mental health struggles, gambling addiction and financial stresses because that's how they build their trust with their doctors. Yet, under the current Medicare system, doctors are forced to rush through consultations and are financially penalised if they spend more than 10 minutes with a patient. This is the cost of inaction.

For many families in Fowler, $42.44 could contribute to their groceries—the cost of which, we know, has increased dramatically. Many are prepared to skip a doctor's visit. They wait until it's too late and then they end up in emergency, putting even more pressure on our already overwhelmed hospitals. Dr Kean-Seng Lim, a Western Sydney GP, has started using remote monitoring to keep patients out of hospitals. It's innovative, it's effective and yet Medicare doesn't cover it. Why? Why are we forcing families to choose between their health and their next meal? Why are we ignoring solutions that could prevent hospital overcrowding? The government talks about increasing Medicare rebates, but let's be clear: those increases only apply to children under 16 and those who are healthcare cardholders. What about middle Australians? How do they cope with the rising cost of living and higher healthcare costs?

I call on the Albanese government to take real action. Increase Medicare rebates for GPs. The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners has called for 20 per cent rebate increase for longer consultations. Incentivise doctors to work in communities like Fowler. Just like regional doctors receive extra support, we need a similar tier for GPs in lower socio-economic areas; this will help retain doctors so families don't have to travel or wait for care. Invest in preventative care. Medicare should cover remote monitoring and community health programs, keeping people healthier and reducing hospital strain, because health care should not be a privilege; it should be a priority.

I don't want to hear another story about a mother who can't afford to take her child to the doctor. I don't want to hear about another GP closing their doors because they can't afford to stay open. And I certainly don't want to hear about another government spending money on plans instead of fixing real problems. We need action now because no-one should suffer just because they can't afford a doctor.