Ms Cleeland said the latest round of health announcements, including new funding for planning a dialysis unit at Cobram, only deepened the injustice facing Benalla patients.
“Benalla has been fighting for years for local dialysis services, yet once again we have been completely overlooked,” Ms Cleeland said.
The Victorian Government, however, said service planning was based on clinical demand.
Ms Cleeland said there was a demand for dialysis services in Benalla.
“It is simply staggering that smaller communities are moving ahead with dialysis planning while Benalla patients are still being forced to travel long distances multiple times every week just to stay alive,” she said.
The Victorian Government recently announced funding for the planning of a day stay unit and patient transport vehicles at Cobram.
Ms Cleeland said this type of support was something Benalla residents desperately needed, but continued to be denied.
“Benalla remains the largest community in the state where people with kidney failure have no choice, but to travel to access lifesaving treatment,” she said.
“These repeated trips take an enormous emotional, physical and financial toll.
“Families are stretched thin, patients are exhausted, and yet Labor continues to turn its back.”
Ms Cleeland said the government’s failure to prioritise Benalla showed a clear disregard for the scale of health need in the region.
“It should not take years of campaigning to secure basic, essential healthcare,” she said.
“Benalla residents deserve the same access to dialysis as patients in every other regional centre.
“With every new funding announcement that passes our region by, confidence in Labor’s commitment to our community erodes even further.”
Ms Cleeland said she would continue to fight for immediate action to finally deliver dialysis services in Benalla.
“Our community has waited far too long. I will not stop pushing until Benalla gets the healthcare infrastructure it deserves, starting with a dialysis chair,” she said.
A Victorian Government spokesperson said dialysis needs across Victoria were regularly monitored to ensure patients could access safe, high-quality care as close to home as possible.
“Service planning is based on clinical demand and statewide modelling to ensure resources are allocated where they are most needed,” the spokesperson said.
“The Department of Health will continue to work closely with Benalla Health to understand and respond to the needs of the community and patients.”
