AMA (NSW) welcomes Government move to ban sale of e-cigarettes to under 18s
February 11, 2015State hospitals are drowning in demand
February 24, 2015AMA (NSW) President, Dr Saxon Smith, says State Labor’s proposal to open walk-in nurse clinics in NSW will waste money and fragment care.
“The proposal shows a lack of understanding of the operation of the NSW public hospital system and goes against established evidence of promoting good quality care,” Dr Smith said.
“There is actually evidence suggesting nurse-led clinics can make the quality of healthcare worse.
“A 2013 evaluation of the ACT nurse-led clinics showed they either increased attendance in hospital emergency departments or had no impact.
“There is nothing to suggest Labor’s plan will have a different effect in NSW,” Dr Smith said.
“Our emergency departments are under significant pressure but this pressure is coming from sicker patients.
“Particularly, the last few years have shown significant jumps in triage 1 and 2 attendances – these are the most urgent cases.
“The last few years have also shown significant drops in the least urgent triage 5 attendances, which would be the sorts of patients nurse-led clinics would treat,” Dr Smith said.
“In announcing this policy, the ALP has squandered the opportunity to improve care by better supporting the links between established general practices and public hospitals.
“Instead this will compromise patient care by adding another silo to our already complex healthcare system,” Dr Smith said.
“There is significant evidence that the best health outcomes are achieved by co-ordinated care provided by family doctors working collaboratively with the hospital system.
“The AMA is calling on both parties to invest in general practice to reduce pressure on our public hospital system,” Dr Smith said.
“The Baird Government, under Health Minister Jillian Skinner, has already taken positive steps with the initial investment of $120 million in innovative integrated care projects to build links between hospitals and general practice.
“The ALP has provided an outdated policy response to the challenges of delivering high quality healthcare to the people of NSW,” Dr Smith said.
Media contact: Lachlan Jones (02) 9902 8113 / 0419 402 955