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G4EBT > MEDICA 16.10.09 19:34l 148 Lines 5605 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 051463G4EBT
Read: GUEST
Subj: Re: Hospitals in OZ
Path: DB0FHN<DB0MRW<DB0ERF<OK0NAG<OK0PPL<DB0RES<DK0WUE<GB7FCR
Sent: 091016/1653Z @:GB7FCR.#16.GBR.EU #:33469 [Blackpool] FBB-7.03a $:051463G4
From: G4EBT@GB7FCR.#16.GBR.EU
To : MEDICA@WW
Bob, VK6BE wrote:-
> I noticed a bulletin from someone, can't remember who,
The term for that is "selective amnesia".
No worries - it's not a clinical condition Bob - it's a state of mind.
I was pleased to hear that your personal experiences and those of your
family and friends have been good. Mine have been similar in the UK,
though it can be a lottery at times. Let's be thankful we don't live
in the US and don't have to worry about being bankrupted though the
misfortune of ill-health.
Lose your job, lose your healthcare cover, lose your health...
Could it get much grimmer?
>about hospital delays in Australia.
It was the Media Release from the Western Australia Medical Association.
Hot off the press two days ago.
Just to remind you:
The AMA is the nation's medical group representing over 28,000 doctors
Australia-wide. The AMA (WA) is the largest independent professional
organisation for medical practitioners in the State.
It represents doctors across the public and private sectors, from
residents and registrars, to specialists and general practitioners.
It negotiates and lobbies policy makers to represent the views and
interests of the medical profession and to promote the welfare of
patients to all those associated with the provision of health care
within Western Australia and at a federal level.
It maintains constant contact and dialogue with state and federal
governments, and has close relationships with many different organisations
whose activities affect the outcomes the AMA (WA) is working towards.
These include hospital services, healthcare providers, Medicare and
private health insurers, academia and numerous royal colleges. It seeks to
maintain influence and contact with a large cross section of NGOs,
affiliated bodies, allied health professionals and other associated
organisations.
The bottom line is that the AMA (WA) strives to see that patients and
residents in WA get a fair slice of the Federal cake when allocating
funds to competing needs.
Don't knock it Bob - they're working for your benefit.
I didn't quote all the Media Release but it's not too long, so here it is:
Quote:
Despite State and Federal Government promises, WA's public hospitals are
struggling to meet demand with emergency departments still under siege and
elective surgery waiting times worse now than they were three years ago.
This grim reality check is revealed in the Federal AMA's 2009 Public
Hospital Report Card released today. The report includes a state-by-state
performance analysis of the nation's public hospital systems.
AMA (WA) President Prof Gary Geelhoed said the latest data showed that WA
hospitals continued to have the worst access block (overcrowding), which
inevitably lead to patient safety and quality of care being compromised.
"With reasonably new Governments in Canberra and WA, there was genuine
hope that the burden on our public hospitals would be eased and adequate
funding provided by both governments for more beds, more nurses and more
resources," said Prof Geelhoed.
"Instead, the Rudd Government diverted the money it promised for hospitals
into its economic stimulus package and the Barnett Government, through
Treasurer Troy Buswell, decided to slash hospital budgets by 10 per cent".
"The result has left WA hospitals floundering - and with our population
growing every day, the situation will only get worse."
Latest data revealed in the AMA's report card shows that only 49 per cent
of category 3 (urgent) ED patients were seen within the recommended time,
compared to 59 per cent in 2006-07. The median waiting time for elective
surgery was 30 days, up from 29 days in 2006-07.
"Without funding for an extra 450 beds and more nurses - and any Budget
savings reinvested in Health - the situation will deteriorate further,"
said Prof Geelhoed.
"Unless the State Government delivers on its promises and turns things
around quickly, there will be an exodus of disillusioned staff to other
states.
"The resultant pressure will mean that even more sick and injured West
Australians will die unnecessarily because of overcrowding and reduced
resources in our hospitals. "We urge both Governments to stop ignoring
the problem, work together and invest in the health of patients."
End quote.
I'm not being flippant or a "know-all" when I say you may find the media
releases of the WA AMA interesting. They cover the broad spectrum of
health issues in WA, from smoking, to calls for junk food kids TV
advertising bans, to cataracts and cardiac care.
It gives an insight as to where your tax dollars go.
http://www.amawa.com.au/media/releases/index.asp
They don't have a "hidden agenda" - just a very public one.
You'll find their codes of ethics here:
http://www.amawa.com.au/aboutus/ethics.asp
You might find their "report card" on heath care across Oz, and by state
and territory of particular interest. It runs to 44 pages, but well
written and highly readable.
Pages 24 - 26 cover WA.
To take just one aspect, if you look at page 3 - hospital bed capacity
(across Oz), you'll sse it has declined by 67% since the 1960s.
The info is presented in graphical form, showing trends over the years for
a whole range of hospital performance measure over the years. Truly, do
take a look:
http://www.ama.com.au/system/files/node/5030/Public+Hospital+Report+Card+20
09.pdf
I don't want to debate it.
Best wishes
David, G4EBT @ GB7FCR
Cottingham, East Yorkshire.
Message timed: 17:14 on 2009-Oct-16
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