Labor announces plans for better Medicare

After-hours GP services will be established and a national Medicare hotline established to take the pressure off hospitals under a new Labor plan.

The party has committed to three major initiatives in a $128 million plan:

• The introduction of a Medicare after hours hotline which will allow callers anywhere across Australia to get advice on what to do in a medical emergency and alllow them to make an appointment at an after hours clinic;

• The establishment of Medicare teams to provide GP services at hospitals where doctors are in short supply and bulk billing rates are low;

• Accredited after-hours GP clinics which would provide services in the community for members of the public.

Labor is still deciding where the services will be located but has indicated Medicare teams will be in operation at Gosford Hospital on the NSW Central Coast, Raymond Terrace in the Hunter Region of NSW, Maroondah Hospital in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne and Northern Hospital in Epping in the northern suburbs of Melbourne.

The HSU has been pushing for the introduction of more after-hours services at hospitals to relieve the pressure on emergency departments in discussions with Labor's health spokeswoman Julia Gillard and the Health Minister Tony Abbott.

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Download Labor's Medicare after-hours policy [ pdf ]

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© 2003 Health Services Union (HSU)
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Last Modified: Wednesday, 16-Nov-2005 17:19:26 EST