published letters

Published in The Age on Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Our emergency departments are struggling to attract and retain staff. Specialists are leaving the public system for the private system. There are four main reasons. Firstly, there is underfunding of the States from the Federal Government. Secondly, there are patients in hospitals who should be in Aged Care facilities. Thirdly, there are patients requiring admission to hospital because they haven’t received adequate care in the community. Fourthly, 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. All of these are Federal Government responsibilities. Could the result be just what it has planned since 1996, the Americanisation or privatization of our health system? In emergencies most of us rely on public hospitals, irrespective of our capacity to afford private health. This is perilous policy for all.

Dr Tim Woodruff
President
Doctors Reform Society