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Now or Never for Patterson
The Health Services Union said today that Health Minister Kay Patterson faces her biggest test tomorrow when she sits down with her state and territory counterparts to discuss a new five year funding agreement.
HSU national secretary Craig Thomson said Senator Patterson had to show up at the meeting in Perth prepared to negotiate not just sit there powerless as usual.
''It is clear that the initial offer made by the federal government for new five year funding agreements for public hospitals is inadequate,'' he said.
"Every day our members are seeing the results of declining rates of bulk-billing and a lack of doctors with ever increasing numbers of patients arriving at hospital emergency departments.
"Negotiating is not just putting an offer on the table and then refusing to discuss it. Victoria alone has estimated it would be $300 million short of what is required.''
"Both the federal government and the states and territories must commit themselves to negotiating an agreement that puts patients and staff first.
"If Senator Patterson is ever to prove she has any authority in her portfolio and is not just a seat-warmer now is the time."
Mr Thomson said new figures produced by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare confirmed the growing burden on public hospitals.
Contact Details
Health Services Union
Ph: 03 93413328
Fax: 03 93413329
http://www.hsu.net.au
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