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AMA Victoria underwhelmed by Budget
5 May 2009.
AMA Victoria has labelled the Victorian Budget “underwhelming”, saying it misses an opportunity for real action.
“We do not have the capacity in our hospitals to care for enough patients,” said AMA Victoria President Dr Doug Travis. “We do not have the basic tools to care for patients, such as an IT system that works.
“Country Victoria is still crying out for more doctors. Hundreds of thousands of patients will still miss out on care in a clinically appropriate timeframe.
“What we need is the ten year heath plan for Victoria. We need innovation and reform. What this Budget offers is an unremarkable series of re-announcements, some small steps and a couple of half measures.
“The shining light is new funding for mental health. The additional $150 million mental health boost is an important investment in the Mental Health Strategy, including early intervention to improve the mental health of children. Victoria congratulates Minister Neville for her leadership in mental health.
“New funding for clinical placements is also welcomed. With many more medical students, support for more clinical placements is vital. However, future Budgets will need to invest further in medical training.
“We note a series of previously announced initiatives brought to book in this Budget, previously welcomed by AMA Victoria. The 276 new hospital beds, announced in December, will relieve some of the pressure from a growing population needing care. Following the Government’s EBA offer in December, Victorian doctors will now be paid on par with their interstate colleagues, stemming the flow of doctors out of our public hospitals.”
AMA Victoria was particularly disappointed that the Budget fails again to invest in information technology. HealthSMART has been very disappointing, and doctors are still lacking the basic IT tools needed to provide best possible care to patients.
“The health and growth of rural Victoria remains compromised by a lack of nurses and doctors,’ said Dr Travis. “AMA Victoria called for a rural and regional health workforce rescue plan: calls that have been ignored. While AMA Victoria welcomes the infrastructure funding for rural hospitals, country Victoria needs nurses and doctors.
“What’s missing from this Budget is a plan for health. There is no vision of how to care for a growing state’s health needs now and into the future. We need to invest more in training, in capacity, in IT and the drivers of reform.”
“This Budget will see the Victorian health system continue to limp along rather than make great strides in caring for our sick.”
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