Survey says health is number one issue in Wide Bay
5th September, 2012
Improving hospitals and health care has been identified as the most important issue in the electorate, according to the results of a survey undertaken by the Federal Member for Wide Bay, Warren Truss. Wide Bay’s Community Survey 2012 asked Wide Bay residents more than one hundred questions on topical issues and more than 4,100 people completed the questionnaire.
“Out of 18 policy areas, 63% of those completing the survey rated hospital and health care among their top four most important concerns,” Mr Truss said.
Other concerns finishing in the top four included reducing the cost of living 39%; improving roads 25%; and tougher sentences for law breakers 21%.
Mr Truss said health had also rated highly in his previous electorate survey three years ago, and the results from the two surveys were remarkably similar.
Only 37% of Wide Bay residents are satisfied with the range of services available from their local hospital. 50% are dissatisfied and 13% are unsure.
82% of respondents said they were readily able to access a general practitioner; 27% could access dentists, physiotherapists, chiropractors etc; but only 51% said they were readily able to access medical specialists (39% said they could not).
“People living in the former Noosa Shire were much happier with medical services available in their area compared with other parts of the Wide Bay electorate,” Mr Truss said.
“In the Sunshine Coast part of the electorate, 58% were satisfied with their hospital. 97% said they were able to access a general practitioner when needed. 91% could access dentists, physiotherapists and chiropractors and 73% could access medical specialists.
“In contrast, only 16% of Maryborough and district residents are satisfied with the range of services available at the Maryborough hospital.
“In Murgon, only 33% said they can readily access medical specialists and only 59% can access dentists, physiotherapists, chiropractors etc,” Mr Truss said.
“The survey also gauged people’s support for a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), with 49% of respondents in favour, 13% opposed and 38% unsure. Interestingly, only 24% of respondents said they would be willing to pay a special tax surcharge to fund the NDIS,” Mr Truss said.
“The survey asked if Medicare should be extended to cover dental care, and 85% said yes, 9% said no and 6% were unsure. 48% of respondents were willing to pay a higher Medicare levy to cover dental care, 40% were opposed and 12% were unsure,” Mr Truss said.
“Only 24% of respondents supported the Government’s decision to cut rebates for private health insurance, with 62% opposed to the cut and 14% were unsure,” Mr Truss said.
“The survey also provided very clear advice on what local residents thought should be done to improve hospitals and health care services in the region,” Mr Truss said.
“81% of respondents said that they support the creation of local hospital boards. 79% said Federal Government funding for health care should be paid direct to local hospitals, rather than to State Governments, with only 8% opposed to this model.
“Health also ranked equal highest amongst survey respondents on the list of what the Federal Government should do if it continues to borrow more money. 50% rated health as the highest priority, shared with roads, rail and infrastructure.
By contrast, only 2% wanted money spent on cash bonus payments and only 7% preferred tax cuts.
Mr Truss thanked those constituents who had taken the time to complete the survey.
“The information will be very helpful to me in identifying priorities for my electorate and in informing debate in the Federal Parliament,” Mr Truss said.
