National health solidified
August 2, 2011
TODAY marks the solidification of
the National Health Reform, which
is hoped will see more funding for
public hospitals, greater
transparency and accountability,
less waste and “significantly less
waiting for patients”.
Signed-off today by the Federal
Government, the agreement includes
an extra $19.8b in public hospital
investment through to 2019-20.
It is estimated the extra funds will
allow for 2.9m more cases in
emergency departments, 2m
additional in-patient services
(including major surgery or kidney
disease and heart attack
treatments), and 19m more
outpatient consultations.
The National Health Reform will
help to make possible a four-hour
target for emergency waiting times
(with the aim that 90% of patients
across all triage categories are
seen within four hours), and a
100% elective surgery target
(meaning patients waiting for
elective services will be treated
within clinically recommended
times).
In return for the extra funding
Australian hospitals have agreed
“unprecedented new levels of
public reporting on health services
and expenditure”, via the
MyHospitals website, as well as
the establishment of a single
National Health Funding Pool.
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