3 June 2008: A marginal increase in hospital beds in the NSW Budget falls short of the number needed to achieve safe bed occupancy rates of around 85 per cent in NSW hospitals, according to AMA (NSW)
“The Budget funded 180 beds announced last year and 52 new beds. Based on the AMA’s 2007 hospital report card, which calculated that NSW needed 1200 beds, nearly 1000 beds are still needed,” said AMA (NSW) President, Dr Brian Morton.
“Funding for additional obstetricians and midwives is welcome. Broad based obstetric services including specialist doctors will provide the safest outcome for mothers and babies.
“However, the funding for high risk beds represents under $1m per annum. This is not enough and is indicative of the continuing bed shortage. The crisis in rural maternity services has not been addressed in this budget.
“AMA (NSW) hopes the new medical specialist positions will be filled. Last year funding for 35 additional emergency physicians was announced, but to date only 17 positions have been filled. On AHWAC guidelines, NSW needs more than 100 additional emergency physicians.
“The recruitment drive will not succeed if working conditions in hospitals do not improve, and higher salaries are offered in other states. If conditions of NSW public hospital doctors and nurses are sacrificed for budget savings they will continue to leave the system.
“NSW urgently needs a medical workforce plan to ensure adequate hospital staffing, clinical training and reduced reliance on locums,” Dr Morton said.
|
