The Doctors Reform Society today condemned the Federal Government's proposed Aged Care package as "mean" and insufficient to meet the needs of carers throughout Australia.

"There are many thousands of carers throughout Australia who will not receive sufficient support from the Federal Government to enable them to care for disabled relatives at home.  Carers need much more support than the Federal Government is offering and many become sick as a result of their efforts to look after their relatives at home" said Dr Con Costa, President of the Doctors Reform Society.

" This announcement by the Federal Government of extra funds for carers today is merely a smokescreen to try to distract from their disgraceful treatment of the elderly over the nursing home debacle.  The Federal  Government should provide extra funding for nursing home respite care to ease the burden on carers" said Dr Costa.

" As doctors, we know many carers end up becoming sick and dying before their disabled loved ones because of the extra stress put on them.  It is vital that the Federal Government stops its mean spirited approach to the funding of nursing homes and put extra funding into the provision of respite care nursing home beds" said Dr Costa.
 
2 April, 1998

[ Doctors Reform Society of Australia home page ]
[ Site Index ] [ Search this Site ] [ What's New ] [ About the DRS ] [ DRS Discussion/Message Board ]
[ Media Releases ] [ Current Issues: online articles ] [ New Doctor: Journal of the DRS ]
[ DRS Policy Statements ] [ Contacting DRS ] [ Joining DRS ] [ Links ]