Jeff Kennett: There is no considered plan how the increasing health needs of the community are going to be efficiently addressed

Victoria’s health system is under increasing stress and most public hospitals are running at a financial loss, putting abnormal pressures on hospital administrators.

The majority of Victorians rely on the public health system.

The government has for a long time failed to address the staffing requirements across the state.

The ambulance response time is failing and the ramping of ambulances at hospitals is an obvious indication of the health system under increasing stress.

The amalgamation of hospitals and hospital services in regional and rural Victoria means many Victorians in need of care, often seriously ill, will have to travel long distances for their treatment.

Victoria’s health system is under increasing stress. Picture: Nadir Kinani

As demand increases, the waiting time for admittance to public hospitals and for dental care, patients waiting for elective surgery are having to wait longer periods than ever before.

The provision of public health care is a fundamental responsibility of the state government, but most public hospitals are running at a financial loss, putting abnormal pressures on hospital administrators.

There is no considered plan how the increasing health needs of the community are going to be efficiently addressed.

Jeff Kennett is a former Liberal premier of Victoria