New AMA (NSW) leadership team to focus on key health issues affecting the state
May 18, 2016AMA (NSW) President: latest report shows another backward step in hospital performance as emergency presentations break records
June 1, 2016AMA (NSW) President, Prof Brad Frankum, says federal cuts to health will make it harder and more expensive for people to access care.
“The latest information from the Bureau of Health Information shows patients in NSW already have high out of pocket costs when compared internationally.
“It also shows that median wait times for treatment are high.
“Cuts by the Federal Government will increase those out-of-pocket costs, increase waiting times, and drive more people to skipping or delaying seeking healthcare.
“This will result in people having poorer health and have the perverse side-effect of driving health costs up as more people seek more expensive hospital care.
“Conditions that might have been managed more cost-effectively in general practice will instead end up in emergency departments,” Prof Frankum said.
“That said, there are many aspects of the BHI report that doctors and health staff throughout the state ought to be proud of.
“The news is generally good and that reflects very well on the hard work of our GPs, community health workers, and hospital staff.
“In particular, the BHI has, once again, found no international comparator country spends less on health and achieves better health outcomes for patients than NSW.
“The Federal Government talks a lot about the need for efficiency – I’ve got good news for them: NSW has a very efficient health system.
“The bad news is that, by robbing it of resources and maintaining the Medicare rebate freeze until 2020, the Federal Government will likely cause poorer outcomes for NSW patients,” Prof Frankum said.
“It’s also likely that, if the Federal Government maintains its current course, it will increase the gap between the rich and poor when it comes to healthcare.
“The BHI report shows richer patients have higher survival rates when it comes to cancer, shorter waiting times for elective surgery, and are less likely to encounter difficulty in accessing care.
“Your level of health and access to care should not be determined by your level of wealth but that’s what we’re seeing,” Prof Frankum said.
Media contact: Lachlan Jones (02) 9902 8113 / 0419 402 955