Labor's Plan for Better Hospitals and Better Care

Labor has announced its Hospitals Policy today, key components of the policy are listed below.

A Federal Labor government will provide $998 million additional health dollars. Along with Labor's $3.4 billion New Deal to Save Medicare, this represents a major investment in health.

Labor will provide $414 million for affordable specialist care for all Australians.

Labor will provide $472 million for priority needs in public hospitals.

Labor will provide funds to help public hospital emergency departments to address waiting times for help and waiting times on trolleys.

Labor will provide funds to upgrade facilities, especially emergency departments. Hospitals will be able to purchase new diagnostic equipment and implement state-of-the art IT systems for improved quality and patient safety.

Medicare licenses for diagnostic imaging such as MRI and PET will be provided for machines in public hospitals, with a requirement that outpatient services be bulk billed.

Labor's Plan for Better Hospitals and Better Care will be deliverd by a Federal Labor Government in partnership with the State and Territories. The principles for this partnership are set out in the Working Together for a Better Australia agreement signed by Mark Latham and all the Premiers and Chief Ministers on 15 July 2004.

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© 2003 Health Services Union (HSU)
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Last Modified: Wednesday, 16-Nov-2005 17:19:27 EST