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 Home News General
HSU Takes the Message to Abbott07 November 2003HSU officials met Health Minister Tony Abbott yesterday and urged him to take immediate action to relieve the pressure on hospital workers and boost Medicare.
HSU secretary Craig Thomson and NSW secretary Michael Williamson headed the delegation which met Mr Abbott. The minister was presented with giant Medicare card petitions containing the signatures of over 5,000 healthworkers collected across the country. Mr Thomson said it was made clear to Mr Abbott during the meeting that declining rates of bulk-billing were having an affect in public hospitals through increased workloads, particularly in emergency departments. "It was important that the minister hear first hand what is going on in our hospitals and it was explained to him that letting Medicare run down is unacceptable," Mr Thomson said. "We told him that steps need to be taken immediately and that the union would support an increase in the Medicare levy if the money was devoted solely to health. "He was also told that the union supported the establishment of bulk-billing clinics on hospital sites where people with minor complaints can seek treatment without long waits. That will also free up staff to deal with more serious complaints. "For too long now this government has failed to put the resources into health that are needed and it is now up to the minister to act.'' |
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© 2003 Health Services Union (HSU) |
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