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Healthcare report shock

Sally McGlew, Hills GazetteHills Avon Valley Gazette

The Health Needs Assessment compared four sub-regions, including Swan and Hills, inner northeast, Perth central and western suburbs to identify gaps in primary health care services.

PCEMML chairman Marcus Tan said the report indicated western suburbs from West Perth to Mosman Park and City Beach had greater access to general practitioners, specialists and allied health services, despite a reduced need for healthcare services.

Dr Tan said the imbalance was alarming considering the eastern suburbs had a high need for health services because of chronic and complex diseases, including diabetes, mental health and cardiovascular disease, compared with State and national figures.

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‘The eastern suburbs also have the highest prevalence of bowel and breast cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, arthritis and osteoporosis, plus the highest rate of avoidable mortality from respiratory system diseases and cancer,’ he said.

East Metropolitan MP Amber-Jade Sanderson said the findings were shocking. ‘The upshot of this report is if we live in Mosman Park or City Beach, we will be OK, but if we live in the east we will probably die early from heart disease or cancer,’ she said. ‘Access to quality publicly owned and run health services should not depend on our postcode, income or ethnicity.’