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Hospitals can be fixed, says AMA
12 February 2008
AMA Victoria has today renewed its calls for the Federal Government to increase its share of public hospital funding to ease Victoria’s public hospital capacity problems.
AMA Victoria President Dr Doug Travis said the Federal Government is $715m behind its funding commitments to the state’s public hospitals and Victorians are suffering.
“While the Victorian Government’s public hospital funding contribution increased in recent years, the lack of Commonwealth funding has reduced our hospitals’ capacity to cope,” said Dr Travis.
“Victoria’s population is growing rapidly, and growing older, and our public hospitals are struggling to cope. We’re seeing the effects every day.
“Capacity problems have led to longer waiting lists, strains on nurses and doctors, and increased waiting in emergency departments.
“The Federal Government’s commitment to clear waiting lists is a good start but more is needed to ease the pressure on our hospitals and improve health care across the board.
An extra $715m of Federal Government funding would significantly improve Victoria’s public hospitals and could:
· Put an end to Victoria’s bed shortage;
· Further reduce elective surgery waiting lists;
· Provide much-needed hospital equipment upgrades; and
· Establish links to GP clinics through acceleration of the hospital IT infrastructure project HealthSMART.
The current Australian Health Care Agreement expires on 30 June 2008. The five-year contracts are negotiated between the Commonwealth and the State/Territory Governments to provide funding for the public hospital systems.
“The Australian Health Care Agreements are an opportunity for our governments to demonstrate their commitment to cooperative federalism and to put an end the blame game,” Dr Travis said.
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