Health: My Cry from the Heart

I recently met the Health Minister Michele O’Byrne whilst she was shopping at our local supermarket.

I related to the minister how I was recently nearly treated as a public patient rather than a private patient and the need to have the most competent people in admissions; ,otherwise the health funds are not charged and the government picks up the tab.

The minister related the problem she has with the Commonwealth and cannot pursue this matter; I mentioned to her how we overcame this when i was chairman of the board resulting in millions being obtained from the health funds; surely this can be resolved at C.O.A.G.

Listening to talk back radio today (Fri), several wrong assertions were made against the medical profession; not all doctors charge above the schedule fee for operations.

Professor Bernie Einoder and the writer have for years stated a means test should be applicable for all patients entering public hospitals; there are many on incomes that could afford private health cover and do not subscribe?

Many aged pensioners for their own satisfaction take out private health cover; surely both governments at state and federal level have solid grounds to apply a means test. if pensioners can take responsibility for their health, then the affluent should be held accountable for their health?

A means test is easy to apply as Human Services Department already applies a means test for those people entering aged care facilities. { so it can be done }

Delaying elective surgery only costs more in the long run, and the patient may be in hospital for a longer stay and cost more.

The emergency department has to attend the young and affluent after a night out, and are taken to the hospital for treatment a means test would recover the treatment and stay (and would not be a burden on the public purse).

Finally we cannot afford to lose our top professional medical staff from our teaching hospitals; the economy of Launceston depends on the full-time employees.

The minister has been handed a poison chalice. I would recommend that she call a meeting including all interested parties; perhaps a war cabinet to tackle this problem. if we require the service the community will have to pay more.

We have the top administrators who have met the challenge in the past and can do so for the future; already the boffins in Hobart are trying to sabotage the 3 health networks by having one chairman for the 3 regions.

Geoff Lyons, a former top health administrator and our Federal member for Bass, has stated this is ill conceived.

We do not need to bring professional administrators from the United Kingdom and the United States who have failed systems; we have the expertise here in Australia.

Failing action we should rally as we have done in the past. We can not let people die in the 21st century because politicians through bad policy have not been prepared to find a formula at C.O.A.G to solve this problem.

The solution is within our own hands: governments can find the money for wars and advertising and other questionable services. The community will not accept that the weak and vulnerable are sacrificed on the altar of expediency.

The state parliament must put aside its differences in the interest of the population. If it can not administer the health of its population, then the commonwealth must end the blame game and take over the running of our public hospitals.

The Commonwealth had to step in to take responsibility for nursing homes and hostels from the states because of their poor performance.

• TASMANIANS NEED REAL SOLUTIONS NOT POLITICAL GAMES

Nick McKim MP
Greens Leader
Sunday, 16 October 2011

The Tasmanian Greens today urged the Liberal Party to stop playing politics with Tasmania’s health system, and instead focus on working to provide constructive and viable solutions.

Greens Leader Nick McKim MP said that negotiations were still ongoing to find a suitable time to be briefed by Liberal Leader Will Hodgman on their proposal, after the Liberals rejected two potential meeting times last week suggested by the Greens.

“We accepted Mr Hodgman’s request on the day to met with him to be briefed on the Liberal’s proposal and the only reason it has not yet occurred is that the Liberals knocked back both of the times we offered, and we are still working to identify a suitable time over the coming days,” Mr McKim said.

“It is disappointing that Mr Hodgman has resorted to this unnecessary megaphone communication via the media in the interim, which leaves very little room for doubt in most people’s minds that this is all about playing politics rather than a genuine attempt to be constructive.”

“We have acknowledged the real concern and pain in the community over the budget situation, but the Liberals appear fixated on securing cheap headlines rather securing workable solutions to break the boom-bust cycle crippling our health system.”

“During the tough times Tasmanians want to see their political representatives set the standard, pull together and work in the public’s interest rather than to further their own vested political interest.”

“It cannot escape notice that after Labor releases a media statement criticising the tricky double-spending contained in the Liberal’s so-called Alternative Budget, that the Liberals then seek to deflect from having to answer those hard questions by a desperate attack on the Greens.”

“On behalf of the Greens I undertook to meet with Mr Hodgman upon his request and despite today’s disappointing attack, I will still endeavour to do so, although given the double-spend in the Liberals’ own costings they do have an uphill battle to demonstrate how they will achieve the savings they agree need to be made,” Mr McKim said.

First published: 2011-10-17 04:33 AM

• “Government Priorities out of Whack with Community Concerns on Health”

This weekend the State Government showed their lack of concern for everyday Tasmanian’s health priorities when Ambulance duty crews were sent to various sporting events leaving dedicated emergency resources in Hobart significantly compromised.

Ambulance Tasmania Crews were taken off the road to attend three major sporting events leaving the community with reduced recourses to respond to emergencies.

The incidents:

 On Saturday a full crew from Hobart Headquarters was sent to the Motor Racing at Baskerville Raceway where it spent seven hours standing by in case an incident occurred.
 Saturday evening a full crew from Hobart Headquarters spent four hours at the “Brace for War” mixed martial arts event at the Derwent Entertainment centre.
 On Sunday a full crew from the Glenorchy Station was sent to the Horse Racing at Elwick Race Course where it remained on standby for four hours.

Tim Jacobson, Health and Community Services Union Assistant Secretary said “The State Government last weekend left Tasmanians Emergency Ambulance Services significantly compromised. Had there been a significant incident Ambulance Tasmania would have struggled to respond.”

This year’s budget foreshadowed a significant (approx 6%) increase in Ambulance caseload. The State Government has allocated no additional resources to respond to the increased demand. The State Government has attributed to all of the caseload increase to emergency cases.

Tim Jacobson said “Ambulance Paramedics are already struggling to cope with increased demand, sending allocated community Ambulance resources to public events places even more pressure on already overworked and under resourced Paramedics.”