Tue 17th Aug 2010
Public hospitals becoming “meat in the sandwich” as federal government continues to abrogate responsibility for public health services
“Recently released figures on public hospital performance show that throughout Australia public hospitals are struggling to cope with the additional demands made upon them despite significant increases in funding from State Governments,” said Dr Tim Woodruff, President, Doctors Reform Society. “But this increased State funding is unmatched by a parsimonious Federal Government which refuses to return to the 50/50 funding arrangement which began 25 years ago with Medicare.”
“Getting into hospital is a challenge for sick Australians although once in hospital the dedication of staff to providing first class treatment remains,” said Dr Woodruff. “But still the Federal Government continues to talk about hospital performance statistics which are not worth the paper they are written on. They ignore the waiting time to get on an elective surgery waiting list and every doctor in the country knows this can be over 2 years. Ignored also is the capacity of hospitals to cheat or game the system and make the figures not quite so bad.”
“More than that however, is the Federal Government’s insistence that continued reliance on and taxpayer support for the more expensive private system is the way to address the problem,” said Dr Woodruff. “The most needy Australians will never be reached by a publicly subsidised private system, whether they have a mental illness, or live in a poor area, or whether they simply can’t afford the copayments. It’s time for the new Gillard Government to accept that fact and adequately fund the public provision of GP services and hospital services. Only then will we be moving to a socially inclusive and fair Australia.””
“It’s time for the new Gillard Government to accept that properly organised and funded public provision of health services is the only way to guarantee a workable and sustainable health system for all Australians – and a socially inclusive and fair Australia. Public hospitals deserve better – patients deserve better, and so do our dedicated hospital nurses and doctors,” said Dr Woodruff.
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