Michell McLeod presented a petition to Ravensthorpe Shire Council when it met in Hopetoun this month. Photo: Supplied.
Hopetoun residents are calling for a nursing post in their town.
Michelle McLeod has been running a community survey and has collected about 180 signatures on a petition.
She said the town had many retired people, many young families and regular influxes of tourists.
“We need a nursing post here because we are not only an aging community, we are a developing young community as well,” she said.
“It is a100km round trip if you are in need of wound care, blood tests, primary health.”
Ms McLeod said Hopetoun residents and visitors had to rely on Ravensthorpe hospital and two doctors who worked Monday to Friday in private practices.
She presented her petition to Ravensthorpe Shire Council when it met in Hopetoun this month.
CEO Matt Bird said he had included the request for a Hopetoun nursing post in the Shire’s list of priorities and this was forwarded to the various candidates prior to the recent State Government election.
“Unfortunately the Shire sits within a safe Nationals seat and we did not get very much traction on any of the priority issues that we had raised,” he said.
“The Shire will continue to work with you and other partners to advocate for a permanent nursing post in Hopetoun.”
A State Government spokesperson said WA Country Health Service provided a range of visiting health services into Hopetoun, including physiotherapy and child health nurses.
“Additionally, WACHS delivers telehealth services to Hopetoun residents, including for specialist appointments,” she said.
“Patients who need to travel for healthcare may be eligible for the Patient Assisted Travel Scheme (PATS) Fuel Subsidy.
“The Cook Government increased to the PATS Fuel Subsidy to 26 cents per kilometre at the 2024-25 State Budget and has committed to a further increase to 40 cents per kilometre at the recent State Election.”
