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Govt must invest in preventative health to plug looming gaps as hospitals close
Tuesday 31 March 2009
Greens MP and Health spokesperson has called on the NSW Health Minister to commit to increasing preventative health services and community care, following today's reports that many small rural hospital facilities may be closed or downgraded because they are not sufficiently resourced to provide the standard of care recommended in the Garling Report.
"Many communities will be left out in the cold if the NSW governments commitment to centralise health facilities following the Garling Inquiry stands in isolation from investment in preventative health and community care measures", said Ms Rhiannon.
"Health Minister John Della Bosca must spell out his plan to plug the looming gaps in areas that face the closure or downgrading of health facilities as a result of the governments move to centralise hospital facilities.
"It is not sufficient to replace a hospital service with a transportation service to the nearest major hospital.
"Commissioner Garling in his report pointed to the sudden and dramatic increase in the number of people using the NSW health system.
"Addressing acute health services in isolation from preventative health and community care will not dissipate the chaos in the NSW health system.
"The health budget is ballooning and the solution is to invest in and promote primary health, particularly early intervention and preventative health services.
"NSW Health's own research shows that almost a quarter of all deaths and 67.4% of deaths occurring before 75 years of age are potentially avoidable with investment in preventative health.
"For too long the NSW government have been lost without a map on health services.
"The Garling Report focused on acute care hospital services but the crisis will continue until the Rees government invests in health prevention and early intervention services", said Ms Rhiannon.
For more information: Lee Rhiannon - 0427 861 568, 9230 3551
