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Coalition releases country health policy
19 February 2005
The Coalition has outlined its plans for country health including establish hospital boards and extra funding for specialist staff.
A Coalition Government will:
- Establish regional country health boards to give local people, including medical professionals, real decision making powers and a direct say in the running and expansion of the region's health services;
- Appoint hospital advisory committees for individual country hospitals to give the local community greater input into health needs in their area;
Opportunities for country staff
A Coalition Government will:
- Allocate $20 million in capital funding over four years to enable country health boards to attract more doctors, nurses and medical specialists to move to the regions or provide specialist visiting services.This funding will be available for the provision of housing or other incentives appropriate to each region;
- Initiate a program to attract nurses to regional areas, including improved accommodation and upskilling opportunities.
Better Regional Services
A Coalition government will:
- Provide $3 million per year to assist the Royal Flying Doctor Service;
- Initiate a $4 million program to assist country residents who require 24 hours care due to severe injuries or isease, through the provision of accommodation, permanent care and rehabilitation at, or closer to, their homes;
- Improved public dental services in country areas, including the provision of three mobile dental clinics to extend dental care into the regions;
- Phase in a regional deafness screening program for newborn babies in regional areas;
- Provide free ambulance services for pensioners and 50 per cent subsidy for seniors over 65 years of age.
Mental health
A Coalition Government will:
- Create a separate Mental Health Services Commission, which will develop a Mental Health Services plan specifically for rural and remote Western Australia;
- Progressively increase funding to mental health services to ten percent of the total health budget. On 2004-2005 budget figures, this will equate to a funding increase of $90 million;
- Provide additional acute care beds at regional hospitals and more mental health services in the country; and
- Greater support for community based programs, especially those for children and adolescents.
Better regional facilities
A Coalition Government will:
- Ensure that there is no forced closure of any country hospitals or country nursing posts.
Regional patients
A Coalition Government will:
- Provide an additional $6 million, or an increase of 10 per cent, over four years in funding for the Patient Assisted Travel scheme;
- Work with regional health boards to improve the scheme, including working to address issues such as stream-lining paperwork requirements.
Contact Details
Health Services Union of Australia
hsu@hsu.net.au
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