Fw: EMSNEWS Digest - 4 Nov 2000 to 5 Nov 2000 (#2000-225)

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Australia - Public hospitals in trouble AMA

>

> http://news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,1383405%255E1702,00.html

>

> Public hospitals in trouble: AMA

>

> >From AAP

> 05nov00

>

> 12.40 (AEDT) Australian Medical Association president Dr Kerryn Phelps has

> said public hospitals around the country are under severe pressure.

>

> Dr Phelps says elective surgery has been cancelled in major Perth

hospitals

> and ambulances turned away because no beds are available.

>

> She said public hospitals in Adelaide are also turning away ambulances and

> an emergency department director has written to the state Human Services

> Minister warning of a crisis.

>

> She says that in , state public hospitals are facing a severe

> nursing shortage.

>

> Dr Phelps' comments follow concern expressed by the New South Wales AMA

> about a public hospital system falling into crisis.

>

> She says the AMA has calculated that public hospitals need a funding

> increase of 5.5 per cent to six per cent - or about $600 million - just to

> keep their heads above water.

>

> She says the AMA will highlight the problems at a Senate roundtable

meeting

> in the next few weeks.

>

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> End of EMSNEWS Digest - 4 Nov 2000 to 5 Nov 2000 (#2000-225)

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