PUBLIC hospital patients have been put on notice that a funding “black hole” will result in longer waiting times for treatment.
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On Thursday, the Australian Medical Association said the states and territories were facing a “huge black hole” in hospital funding.
In its annual report card on the hospital system, the AMA called for the funding crisis to be a priority in discussions between Prime Minister Tony Abbott and state and territory leaders in Canberra on Friday.
AMA president Brian Owler said the federal government had retreated from its funding responsibilities, as public hospital funding looms as the biggest single challenge facing state and territory finances for the foreseeable future.
“The states and territories are facing a huge black hole in public hospital funding after a succession of commonwealth cuts,” associate professor Owler said.
Health funding should always be a priority. Not just during a talk-fest.
With an ever-increasing – and ageing – population, health should always be a priority, right alongside education.
The demand for services at hospitals is rapidly increasing as access to GPs decreases.
With fewer GPs taking on new patients, the demand for medical services at hospitals, particularly in emergency departments, is rapidly on the rise.
According to the AMA report, funding for public hospitals is shrinking; performance benchmarks are not being met; bed-to-population numbers have not changed despite increasing demand for services; and there has been no improvement in median waiting times for elective surgery since 2010-11.
Ongoing cuts mean Commonwealth funding for public hospitals from 2017-18 to 2024-25 would be reduced by $57 billion as a result of changes to the funding system put in place by Labor.
Associate professor Owler warned patients would be forced to wait longer for their treatment and care unless the situation was addressed.
He said the issue must be a priority for discussion at the COAG meeting in Canberra and health ministers meeting in Sydney, and that the federal government should be looking at restoring public hospital funding in the May budget.
Further cuts to hospitals and vital health services and longer waiting times for treatment is something that struggling Australian families really don’t need.