DOCTORS REFORM SOCIETY

Media Release

Sunday, 29 February 2004

 

PATIENTS DYING IN HOSPITALS ACROSS AUSTRALIA: WHERE IS THE FEDERAL HEALTH MINISTER?

 

“Our patients are dying unnecessarily in hospitals across Australia at a rate of at least 4,500 every year because of Government inaction,” said Dr Tim Woodruff, President, Doctors Reform Society.

 

“Evidence presented today on the Sunday Show about this terrible tragedy has been known since 1996 and little has changed since then,” said Dr Woodruff. “Our hospitals are under resourced and overstretched.”

 

“Instead, when our patients go to the emergency department they wait hours because there are too many patients who can’t find or afford a GP and are in the emergency department instead of seeing a GP”, said Dr Woodruff. “That’s the Federal Government’s responsibility.”

 

“Even when they get seen, there is no bed available because so many patients waiting for Aged Care places are taking up the expensive hospital beds. Aged Care is a Federal Government responsibility.”

 

“They need operations but can’t get an anaesthetist because he’s working next door in the private hospital subsidised by the ever increasing private health insurance rebate, ie $2.2 billion taxes which could instead be spent on public hospitals. That’s the Federal Government.”

 

“And why has so little been done since 1996 when we first found out about all these unnecessary deaths?” asked Dr Woodruff. “It’s because both State and Federal Governments have managed to avoid the issue by buck passing, pretending that it is not a big issue, and/or deciding it’s too hard to work together for the health of all Australians.”

 

“It’s time to start blaming the politicians who are meant to be running our health system for our patients. Responsibility starts at the top. Where are you Mr Abbott?”

 

Dr Con Costa

Vice President

Doctors Reform Society

Dr Tim Woodruff

President

Doctors Reform Society

Doctors Reform Society