NSW granted lion's share of surgery cash - Sydney Morning Herald- Cash Pay
NSW has snared almost a third of $150 million earmarked by the Federal Government to reduce waiting lists for elective surgery but the amount is so small it is “ridiculous”, the Australian Medical Association has said. He said the Government would provide up to another $450 million in the next four years to help states improve hospitals’ performance on elective surgery waiting lists. The president of the Australian Medical Association, Rosanna Capolingua, said $150 million was a token gesture and would only put more pressure on doctors and nurses, unless the fundamental problem of bed shortages was addressed. NSW’s Health Minister, Reba Meagher, has said the state has cut lists from more than 10,000 patients waiting more than a year for non-urgent surgery in January, 2005, to 184 las September. Despite this, Ms Meagher had pushed for $50 million of the funds, arguing NSW comprised a third of the country’s population and needed the money to keep the waiting lists short. Find Out More
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