Media Statement - 16th July 2007
Labor’s Shadow Minister for Health Nicola Roxon and Labor candidate for Bonner Kerry Rea recently toured Wynnum Hospital, talking with staff and patients about health care issues in the area.
Ms Roxon was alarmed to learn that 10 of the 21 acute beds at the hospital were being filled by older Australians waiting to get an aged care bed.
“These 10 patients at Wynnum are just a small part of the 2,300 older Australians who have been assessed for residential aged care but are waiting in hospital wards around the country. Some are waiting months for a bed in a nursing home.
“Not only are too many older Australians not receiving the most appropriate care for their needs, but this sort of pattern also means that much needed hospital beds are not available to Australians of all ages waiting for surgery or medical treatment.
“Labor is committed to relieving the pressure on our hospitals and ending the blame game and cost-shifting that goes on between the Commonwealth Government and State and Territory governments.
“That is why Labor has recently announced a $158 million investment over the next five years to create up to 2,000 transition care beds for older Australians who are currently waiting in hospital beds for an aged care bed, and allowing others to return to their home; and $300 million of loans at zero real interest rates to aged care providers to make up to 2,500 permanent residential aged care beds available to older Australians sooner.”
Ms Roxon stressed that Federal Labor wanted to tackle the broader structural issues which affect the affordability and quality of health care delivery and that challenge the long term sustainability of our health system.
Ms Roxon, Ms Rea and Labor candidate for Moreton Graham Perrett also met with local Divisions of General Practice to discuss health issues affecting the south Brisbane community.