Govt urged to end hospital revamp uncertainty
Posted
The New South Wales Nurses Association wants the State Government to end what it says is the uncertainty over the future of planned hospital upgrades.
Several hospital redevelopments, including the one planned for the Tamworth Base Hospital, have been placed under a cloud by Health Minister Reba Meagher, who says they were dependent on the failed sell-off of the state's power industry.
The association's general secretary, Brett Holmes, says it is inappropriate to link the improvements to hospitals with the ownership of the state's power generators.
The redevelopment to the Narrabri hospital is not affected by the failure of the Government's sell-off.
Meanwhile, the state MP for Northern Tablelands, Richard Torbay, has warned the region's hospitals are likely to become more overcrowded if the Federal Government's planned changes to the Medicare levy go ahead.
Figures released this week, that were challenged by Hunter New England Health, revealed the Tamworth and Armidale hospitals failed to meet key benchmark times for treating patients in their emergency departments.
Mr Torbay says the Government's proposal to increase the income levels governing the Medicare surcharge will throw more people onto the already stretched public hospital system.
"That's why we need to be mindful of these figures and watchful that were more resources are needed we put them into them," he said.
"I'm hoping if the Commonwealth's going to change the private situation with Medicare that they fund the public health system to cope with that situation."
