published letters

Published in SMH on Monday, March 17, 2008

When financial rewards are given to large organisations such as hospitals for achieving performance targets that can’t be met, because the hospitals don’t have the resources, we should not be surprised that “gaming” occurs. Falsification of records, invention of virtual wards in order to get patients out of the real ward, and any other means of achieving those targets are likely to be used by bureaucrats who need every resource available.

It is wrong, but it happens everywhere. Audits may diminish such behaviour, but they do not address the real problem: unrealistic performance measures and inadequate resources.

Dr Tim Woodruff
President
Doctors Reform Society