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Our emergency departments are struggling to attract and retain staff. Specialists, interns and nurses and allied staff are leaving the public system for the private system, said Dr Tim Woodruff, President, Doctors Reform Society

There are four main reasons. Firstly, there is underfunding of the States from the Federal Government. Secondly, the promotion of private health and hospital care through the Private Health Insurance rebate makes private practice more attractive to public hospital doctors and other health professions, contributing to public hospital workforce shortages. Also there are the perennial problems of patients in hospitals who should be in Aged Care facilities and patients requiring admission to hospital because they haven’t received adequate care in the private “rapid revolving door” fee for service GP system.

All of these problems are Federal Government responsibilities, said Dr Woodruff. Could the result be just what it has planned since 1996, the Americanisation or privatization of our health system?

In emergencies – heart attack, major MVA or miscarriage – all of us will rely on public hospitals and public accident and emergency rooms, irrespective of our capacity to afford private health. Privatisation of the health system is perilous policy for all.

Dr Tim Woodruff
President
Doctors Reform Society

Dr Con Costa
Vice President
Doctors Reform Society

Dr Tracy Schrader
Vice President Qld
Doctors Reform Society

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