Country Hospitals Must be Kept Viable - AMA
Following its meeting last night, the AMA's Rural Reference Group (AMARRG) is today calling on all Australian governments to do whatever it takes to keep country public hospitals operating and properly resourced and staffed.
AMARRG Chair, Dr David Rivett, said it is not right that country people should be treated as second-class citizens when it comes to their health and the health of their families.
"As far as we - the doctors who live and work in country Australia - are concerned, it is a priority to keep the public hospitals in our country towns and regional centres viable," Dr Rivett said.
"They are vital components of the health, social and employment infrastructure of country communities.
"The closure and downgrading of rural hospitals is also having a devastating impact on the rural medical workforce.
"Without access to decent facilities, rural doctors simply do not have enough opportunities to maintain their skills.
"Doctors in training are often reluctant to go to rural areas because they cannot always get the training or support they need."
The AMARRG has previously endorsed the proposal put forward last week by AMA President, Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, that governments must adopt a new public interest test to be applied before closing rural hospitals.
According to the AMA, a public interest test on country public hospital closures should look at:
- the impact on the maintenance of skills of the local medical workforce
- the impact on the health needs of the local community
- the social and employment impacts on the local community, and
- the availability and proximity of alternative resources.
The AMARRG last night considered the scheme put forward by Deputy Prime Minister, Mark Vaile, for tied funding for rural and regional hospitals in future Australian Health Care Agreements.
Dr Rivett said the AMARRG believes Mr Vaile's idea needs to be thoroughly debated before it is either rejected or accepted by governments and the community.
"The health situation is so dire in rural Australia at the moment that we cannot afford to rule anything out," Dr Rivett said.
"The sad truth is that governments at all levels and of all persuasions have sat back and allowed country hospitals and health services to run down to desperate levels of staffing, quality and resources."
The AMA has written to the Deputy Prime Minister seeking a meeting to discuss his tied funding proposal further and to ascertain if it is a serious policy consideration for COAG.