Health system set to be the biggest loser this election
March 24, 2023
A message of condolence
April 17, 2023
The Australian Medical Association of New South Wales today welcomed the NSW Labor government and the new Premier of NSW, Chris Minns. AMA (NSW) President Dr Michael Bonning said the association looks forward to a productive relationship with the State Government on addressing the challenges facing our health system.
“We welcome the Minns Government’s commitment to reduce elective surgery wait times through their surgical care taskforce pledge,” Dr Bonning said. “We must see that promise coupled with sustained investment.
“The delay in care caused by long elective surgery waiting lists has a profound impact on patients as it can lead to a further deterioration of their health and quality of life,” Dr Bonning said.
“There is an urgent need to recruit, train and retain doctors in the NSW public healthcare system,” Dr Bonning said.
“Ambulances are ramped outside of hospitals; emergency departments are overflowing; and wards are at capacity. The public expects to have timely care from a doctor in hospital, as part of a fully staffed healthcare team.
“The Minns Government’s commitment to addressing ambulance ramping is imperative to ensure the best outcomes for our community and health workforce,” Dr Bonning said.
“The new Labor Government must take immediate and direct action on rural and regional health. The rural health inquiry further characterised that Australians living in rural and remote areas have higher rates of hospitalisations, deaths and injury. To improve healthcare access in rural NSW, we need clear training pathways and solutions to rural medical workforce needs and distribution.
“In addition, rural and regional communities face the compounding impact of natural disasters,” Dr Bonning said.
The AMA announced a policy resolution declaring rural health services as essential services for the purposes of support and recovery in the event of a disaster and has called on the Government to recognise the essential nature of all health practitioners in regional and rural areas in the event of a natural disaster.
“The state health system’s efforts will be undone if general practice becomes financially unsustainable. The State government must take this opportunity to protect patient access to affordable healthcare by providing general practices with a payroll tax exemption,” Dr Bonning said.
AMA (NSW) looks forward to working with the new health minister, and as he retires from politics acknowledges the service of former Health Minister, Brad Hazzard.
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