Heart disease remains one of the leading causes of death in Australia
A public cardiac unit at Mildura Base Public Hospital would allow for earlier diagnosis, faster treatment, and better long-term management of heart conditions close to home. It would significantly reduce the burden on families who now face the emotional and financial strain of long-distance healthcare.
Mildura and the surrounding Sunraysia region have long faced the challenges of distance and accessibility when it comes to specialist medical services. While a private cardiac service has been a welcome addition to the local healthcare landscape, the need for a publicly funded cardiac unit at Mildura Base Public Hospital has never been more critical. Establishing such a unit would not only save lives but also ensure timely access to care for all residents, regardless of income or location.
Heart disease remains one of the leading causes of death in Australia, and regional communities are disproportionately affected. In Mildura, the rising rates of cardiac-related illness are compounded by an aging population and long distances to major metropolitan hospitals. Currently, many patients must travel to Melbourne or Adelaide for diagnosis and treatment, delays that can be dangerous, even fatal, when dealing with cardiac emergencies.
A public cardiac unit at Mildura Base Public Hospital would allow for earlier diagnosis, faster treatment, and better long-term management of heart conditions close to home. It would significantly reduce the burden on families who now face the emotional and financial strain of long-distance healthcare.
While the private cardiac service in Mildura provides essential care, it isn’t accessible to all members of the community. For many patients, especially those without private health insurance or the means to pay out-of-pocket costs, private care is simply not an option. A public cardiac unit ensures that no one is left behind when it comes to life-saving cardiac treatment.
This is a matter of health equity. Everyone in the community should have access to the same standard of care, regardless of their financial situation. Public healthcare is the backbone of rural and regional health services, and a public cardiac unit would ensure that the Mildura region receives the quality and accessibility of care that is standard in larger cities.
The establishment of a public cardiac unit would not compete with the existing private service, it would complement it. Together, the public and private sectors can create a more robust, flexible, and efficient cardiac care system in the region.
The case for a public cardiac unit at Mildura Base Public Hospital is clear. It addresses a pressing health need, ensures fairness in access to care, complements existing private services, and strengthens the region’s healthcare capacity for the future. Most importantly, it gives the people of Mildura and surrounding areas the chance to receive life-saving care when and where they need it most.
