By Luke Voogt
Accusations of cuts to Geelong radiology services to generate “profit” have emerged this week, in the lead-up to the Victorian Election.
Two Geelong socialist candidates on Monday made the allegations, which Health Minister Jill Hennessey labelled a “baseless” scare campaign and Barwon Health denied.
According to Victorian Socialists candidate Tim Gooden, Barwon Health had an agenda to scrutinise its services to assess which “generate profit”.
“Now services in the radiology department are at threat and who knows what else,” the candidate for Western Victoria said.
“What we need is the Geelong community to say enough is enough.”
The former Geelong Trades Hall secretary levelled the accusations at the health provider’s chief executive officer Ruth Salom, after attending a public hearing on Friday.
He and Geelong residents heard from assistant secretary of Victorian Allied Health Professionals Association Andrew Hewat at the forum.
“The CEO has already directed Barwon Health employees to stop some services in the radiology department,” Mr Gooden said.
“These are services that private providers will not provide in Geelong, forcing patients to travel to Melbourne if they need to access these procedures.”
Fellow Victorian Socialist and candidate for the seat of Geelong Sarah Hathway echoed Mr Gooden’s accusations.
“It is a surprise that in an election year we have a CEO and a board determined to reduce services provided by the only teaching hospital in the Western Victoria region,” she said.
“The board is hired by the Victorian state government who are ultimately accountable for any reduction of services at Barwon Health.”
But the Health Minister described the claims as “baseless”.
“This is a sneaky scare campaign that should be called out for exactly what it is,” she said.
“Barwon Health offers patients the radiology services they need close to home, and there are absolutely no plans to alter these operations.
“To suggest otherwise is to seek to mislead local families and patients for cheap political gains.”
Barwon Health acting chief executive officer Cobus Lotheringen also rejected the claims.
“Barwon Medical Imaging, which performs all radiology operations at University Hospital Geelong, has not ceased any services and there are no plans to do so,” he said.
“We are proud to offer cutting-edge radiology services, which allow patients to undergo cancer treatment close to home without the mental and physical toll of travelling to Melbourne.
“Barwon Health constantly reviews the services offered as a public hospital with a set budget, in order to provide the best possible care needed in the community.”
In 2015 Barwon Health contracted out its laundry services to private company in Ballarat at a cost to Geelong jobs.
The health provider made the decision “to prioritise investment in clinical services and equipment”, as the laundry required an $11 million update to continue operating, Mr Lotheringen said.
