Doctors Reform Society
Media Release
 
12 January 2003
 
Doctors warn patient lives at risk in Australian Public Hospitals
 

The Doctors Reform Society (DRS) today warned that unless extra funding for more doctors and nurses is provided urgently, more patients will die unnecessarily in Australian Public Hospitals.

"Australian Public Hospitals are in financial crisis due to Federal government under funding. This under funding is resulting in inadequate staffing and unnecessary deaths such as those at Camden hospital", said Dr Con Costa, Vice President of Doctors Reform Society.

"The Doctors Reform Society calls for the Federal Health Minister, Mr Tony Abbott to immediately return from his holidays and provide for an immediate increase in funding for Australian Hospitals. Mr Abbott should also meet with all state ministers of health urgently to discuss how to solve the Public Hospital crisis." said Dr Con Costa.

"The Federal government's proposed Medicare Plus changes are nothing more than a band aid attempt at patching up some of the problems in the Public Hospital system. The Medicare Plus proposal does nothing to address the urgent problems in Australian Hospitals that are resulting in unnecessary deaths." said Dr Costa.

"It is inevitable that Public Hospitals throughout Australia will have to fly in doctors from overseas until there is adequate funding to provide sufficient training and staffing by Australian doctors in Public Hospitals" said Dr Costa.

Dr Con Costa Vice President Doctors Reform Society

Dr Tim Woodruff President Doctors Reform Society

For further information please contact the Doctors Reform Society during business hours

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