Call for bulk-billing specialist paediatrician in Sunbury
A desperate mother of two is calling on the State Government to bring a publicly funded paediatrician to Sunbury.
North West
Don't miss out on the headlines from North West. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A mother is calling on the State Government to bring a publicly funded paediatrician to Sunbury.
Simone Meyer and her two children — one of who has special needs — have been making the trek back and forth to Broadmeadows for the past few years.
She has launched a petition to attract the attention of Sunbury state Labor MP Josh Bull and it has since gained more than 200 signatures.
GET MOVING TO MAKE SUNBURY BETTER
SUNBURY TO GET A MILLION-DOLLAR MAKEOVER
SUNBURY HISTORY FACEBOOK GROUP OPENS UP THE PAST
While bulk-billing GPs and private paediatricians operate in the area, no dedicated children’s doctor bulk bills.
Ms Meyer said not having a publicly funded paediatrician in town put lower-income residents at a disadvantage.
“When your kid has special needs, you need to access special services at least every six months,” she said.
“And that’s even more frequent if your child needs medication of some sort.
“What about the people who don’t drive who might need to access a paediatrician?”
Ms Meyer said young families often needed specialised expertise.
“If there is something more than just speech issues, like a developmental delay or an autism diagnosis, it’s really the paediatrician you need to see,” she said.
Ms Meyer said she knew of parents who had been forced to travel to Keilor, Moonee Ponds and Pascoe Vale.
Mr Bull confirmed he had been contacted about the issue.
“Recently I announced that if re-elected, we will provide a significant upgrade to the Sunbury Day Hospital and will transform it into the Sunbury Community Hospital,” he said.
“We will work with Western Health, local healthcare agencies and the community to determine the highest needs and provide the best possible care including after-hours care.”
MORE NEWS
Dream start: Young Roo hops into cricket season with stunning stats
A rising Greenvale Kangaroos star, fresh off a dominant winter, has made a stunning start to his summer. He provides the reasons for his form and all the top performers from round 1 of the under-18 premier competition.
$80k trail of destruction by alleged thief
An Altona North man has been accused of leaving a trail of $80,000 worth of property damage after an alleged crime spree across Melbourne’s western suburbs.