Coalition will improve hospitals and boost health services in Wide Bay
13th August, 2010
Federal Member for Wide Bay Warren Truss today said a Coalition Government will deliver a $3.6 billion ‘beds and boards’ investment in local hospitals and health services. The Coalition will reduce hospital red tape and allow local communities to have a greater say in how their local hospitals are run by providing $90.7 million over four years, towards the establishment and operation of community controlled public hospitals.
“Local hospital boards, doctors and nurses are best placed to ensure their local hospital management is responsive and accountable. Community boards should include prominent community representatives with financial and management expertise as well as people with medical, nursing and allied health field experience,” Mr Truss said.
The Liberal and Nationals will end the blame game on health funding by offering to take over 100% of hospital funding from states which agree.
The Coalition will also provide funding of $3.1 billion for 2,800 new public hospital beds over the next four years to reduce waiting times for people requiring treatment in emergency departments and elective surgery.
“Our commitment will deliver 1,500 more beds than under the Rudd-Gillard Government’s National Health and Hospital Networks plan. Funding for these additional beds will be contingent upon the States and Territories providing evidence that these beds have opened,” Mr Truss said.
A Coalition Government will provide a transparent and sustainable funding model for our public hospitals. Commencing with the next round of Australian Health Care Agreements in 2014, the Coalition will commit to a set proportion of the efficient cost of public hospital services without any claw-back of state GST revenue.
The Coalition will also support a range of measures to ensure that nurses receive the professional support they need, including:
• Funding of $150 million over four years to establish the Nursing Professional Development Fund.
• An annual $10,000 bonus for up to 300 nurse practitioners working in remote communities that have no resident medical practitioner.
• An additional 100 scholarships for rural and regional nurse practitioners.
An additional $200 million will also be invested in infrastructure for GPs to provide training and teaching rooms, rooms for additional and visiting doctors, expansion of integrated allied health services and multidisciplinary care, including for practice nurses and the extension of after-hours opening times.
Criteria for the grants will be developed in consultation with the medical community and will be targeted to rural and remote areas, areas of need and districts of workforce shortage.
The Coalition Government will also provide funding of $200 million over four years to support leading health and medical research.
“Labor’s health plan just re-badges State GST revenue as Federal money and creates an additional layer of bureaucracy to administer those funds without delivering any new services until 2014,” Mr Truss said.
“In contrast, the Coalition’s better policy provides greater local control, opens 2,800 hospital beds and improves front line medical services.”
