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Monday 8 March 2010
NSW PREPARES FOR FEDERAL HEALTH REFORMS: “LET’S SEIZE THE
OPPORTUNITY AND WORK IN PARTNERSHIP”
Premier Kristina Keneally today detailed the NSW Government’s three-part Health
Consultation Plan and Formal Response Agenda – to the Prime Minister’s proposed
health reforms.
“This is a key part of our preparations for formal meetings with the Commonwealth,” Premier
Kristina Keneally said.
“It will ensure the position we take to COAG next month is one that best reflects the needs
of NSW families.
“We want to seize this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create the best health and hospital
system for NSW.
“We want to work with the Prime Minister to end the blame game and repair the decade of
neglect under the Howard Government.
“This is about helping the young mum waiting at emergency department with a feverish child
or the grandfather waiting to see an orthopaedic surgeon for a hip replacement,” Ms
Keneally said.
The formal consultation with health experts, stakeholders and community begins this week.
In the meantime, NSW is continuing to seek more information and further clarification from
the Federal Government on their plans.
“It is essential we hear from our doctors, nurses, carers, academics and the community. We
want to hear from those who deal with the challenges of our health system on a daily basis.
Their views will be critical to our discussions with the Commonwealth at next month’s COAG
meeting.
“We want to help secure the best possible outcome for NSW families and we will approach
the COAG meeting with open minds and in a spirit of cooperation.
“The NSW Government is supportive of the Federal Government’s historic new approach to
health and wants to engage in a genuine dialogue. This presents a unique opportunity to
begin planning for future health care in our State.
“We will do everything we can to provide honest feedback and input into the national
discussion and secure the best possible outcome for the people of NSW,” she said.
The NSW Government Health Consultation Plan and Formal Response Agenda will
include:
- • A Discussion Paper on the possible implications and impact of the Federal Government’s Health reforms on NSW funding, service delivery, and workforce.
- • A Half-day working seminar on NSW’s Response to Health Reform - bringing together a group of up to 50 doctors, nurses, primary care providers, academics, and consumers in urban, rural and regional communities to canvass key issues raised in the Prime Minister’s proposal; and
- • A Public Submissions Process through an online forum for community members to make their own written submissions on both the Commonwealth’s proposal and the State’s discussion paper.
The NSW Government will hold its half-day working seminar and launch the website within
the next two weeks.
Work on the discussion paper commences immediately and will be led by Deputy Premier
and Minister for Health, Ms Carmel Tebbutt with assistance from Minister for State Plan,
Linda Burney.
Ms Tebbutt said a new website would provide people with up-to-date information about the
reform plan and enable stakeholders and the public to have their say on the proposals.
“This website will be a one-stop-shop for the public and stakeholders to find out information
and respond to issues and ideas proposed by the reforms,” Ms Tebbutt said.
“The NSW Government sees the Prime Minister’s proposal as an historic opportunity to
improve access to medical care and cut waiting times,” Ms Tebbutt said.
Ms Keneally said she expected to receive answers shortly from the Prime Minister to
questions about the impact of the reforms on the NSW health care system..
“On Friday, March 5, we wrote to Prime Minister Rudd outlining our cooperative approach
and listing issues that needed to be clarified to ensure an informed discussion and debate.”
“The letter also clarified the need for the review to focus on the link between primary care
and hospital admissions, as well as acute care and aged care.
“We need to ensure that any reforms to our complex health system do not simply result in
structural cost shifting between the Commonwealth and the States, and where necessary,
new funding is provided.”
Ms Keneally said she would shortly receive answers to questions about the impact of the
reforms on the NSW health care system from the Prime Minister.
The NSW Government has asked the Commonwealth to clarify a range of issues including:
- • How these new funding and organisational arrangements will lead to better aligned
services between primary care and hospital care
- • The respective roles of the Commonwealth and State and Territory Governments in
relation to capital planning and delivery, as well as approval of funding for new
capital proposals
- • The role of the States and Territories in the development of performance standards
for Local Health Networks
- • Funding arrangements and how revenue transfer from the States and Territories to
the Commonwealth will be made in the context of the Henry Review on taxation
- • How the implementation of tax changes will lead to a more sustainable and efficient
base on which to fund the States’ service delivery objectives
- • The role of the States and Territories in the “independent body” as it sets the national
efficient price
- • The consequences and decision-making role if, for reasons of geography or
population base, a hospital (for example, in a regional area) is not able to deliver
services at an ‘efficient price
- • The range of services the Commonwealth proposes to be included in the definition of
primary care
TITLE: More Aged Care Places and Jobs in Mt Gambier
PORTFOLIO: Health and Ageing
URL: http://www.health.gov.au/internet/ministers/publishing.nsf/Content/mr-yr10-je-je017.htm?OpenDocument&yr=2010&mth=3
SNIPPET: Minister for Ageing, Justine Elliot today toured the construction and building works underway at Mt Gambier's Boandik Lodge that will increase the number of aged care places in Mount Gambier. 'The Zero Real Interest Loans initiative is a practical and commonsense way that the Government can assist in the expansion of services to areas of need like Mt Gambier. The Rudd Government is making more than $150 million in Zero Real Interest Loans available to aged care providers as part of a package of capital support provided as part of this year's aged care approvals round to support further construction and investment.
TITLE: Investing in the Aged Care Workforce - $9.5 Million for Nursing Scholarships
PORTFOLIO: Health and Ageing
URL: http://www.health.gov.au/internet/ministers/publishing.nsf/Content/mr-yr10-je-je018.htm?OpenDocument&yr=2010&mth=3
SNIPPET: Minister for Ageing, Justine Elliot today announced that $9.5 million in nursing scholarships are being made available to train or upskill up to 680 people as part of the Rudd Government's investment in the aged care workforce. 'The aged care industry is Australia's ninth biggest employer and we are committed to building an aged care workforce for the future.'. Community aged care nurses interested in the scholarships to be advertised on 6 March 2010, should contact the Royal College of Nursing Australia on 1800 116 696 or.
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