A brochure produced by Liberal Member for Wagga, Daryl Maguire, on palliative care for the region has been described as creating more questions than answers.
The 18 page booklet was recently delivered to mailboxes around the electorate and discusses the state government’s palliative care plan, Wagga’s Palliative Care Alliance and developments at the Calvary Hospital and Forrest Centre.
The Labor candidate for Wagga, Daniel Hayes, has praised Mr Maguire for taking an interest in the issue but has described the brochure as more ‘promotion’ rather than ‘information’.
Mr Hayes, who is a psychologist, says it is lacking in certain details.
“With a lot of the options for palliative care, how many beds are going to be available to public patients, how many will be available to private?
“What will happen if there is competing demands for each of those patients as well?
“Who can access it, what cost it’s going to have to the taxpayers?
“They’re some of things not mentioned in there.”
Questions have also been raised over how the Wagga Palliative Care Alliance will operate beyond next year, when Medicare Locals are disbanded.
“Part of the document also talks around the role of the Medicare Local has with palliative care for this region,” Mr Hayes said.
“But Medicare Locals are being shut down by the Abbott Government come 1st of July next year, so what is happening post then for palliative care?
“Who will be replacing their role within the Alliance and finally meeting the need within the community.
Last week, palliative care expert Doctor Yvonne McMaster visited the city and told ABC Riverina more money needed to be provided to provide better services locally.
Mr Hayes says he will be looking at palliative care for the region in the lead-up to next year’s state election.
“I always think that informing the public about what’s going on is very important,” he said.
“Unfortunately I think the document is, I guess, more an advertisement than it is an informed document telling people what’s going on.
“There’s a lot of questions still being left out there.
“It seems to be more promotion than information.
The ABC has contacted Mr Maguire for comment.