DOCTORS REFORM SOCIETY

DRS

Media Release

Friday, 16 November 2007

DOCTORS WELCOME HOWARD’S BACKFLIP ON FEDERAL GOVERNMENT’S RESPONSIBILITY FOR PUBLIC HOSPITALS

 

 “John Howard’s announcement today of increased Aged Care places which will ‘take the pressure off public hospitals’ is a belated admission that the Federal Government does bear some responsibility for the dire situations in our public hospitals” said Dr Tim Woodruff, President, Doctors Reform Society. “This is after years of saying that public hospitals are a State responsibility and that problems in these hospitals are down to the States.”

This comes on top of an admission by the Federal Government that it has underfunded the public hospitals compared to the States contribution,” said Dr Woodruff

“Mr Howard and Mr Abott (The Minister for Private Health) need to "come clean" and tell us if and how they will reverse their failed health policies.”

“They need to tell the public how they will staff such Aged Care places in a time of crucial nursing shortages across the county,” said Dr Woodruff.

“They also need to act on the 8.7% of admissions to hospitals which would not be happening if there was adequate primary care - for which the Federal Government is largely responsible”, said Dr Woodruff