DOCTORS REFORM SOCIETY

Media Release

Sunday, 29 January 2006

NURSE HOTLINE TINKERING AT EDGES OF PUBLIC HOSPITAL PROBLEMS

“The Federal Government proposal to spend $40 million per year to set up a nurse hotline to decrease the pressure on public hospitals is tinkering at the edges of the problem in our public hospitals,” said Dr Tim Woodruff, President, Doctors Reform Society

“Our public hospitals are where all of us will need to go in an emergency, or as a result of a terrorist attack,” said Dr Woodruff, “but instead of properly addressing all of the problems in our public hospitals, the Federal Government spends $2.5 billion every year on supporting the private hospital sector, and offers an extra $40 million for a hotline which will have a marginal impact at best”.

“This is a gimmick designed to convince the public that the Federal Government is interested in the public system,” said Dr Woodruff. “The real truth is that the public system is destined under this government to become the safety net for the poor”

Dr Tim Woodruff

President

Doctors Reform Society