Media Release

7 April 2006

ANF calls for health care reform commission

The Australian Nursing Federation is calling on the Australian Government to establish a health care reform commission to ensure that heath care is delivered on a needs basis.

Appearing at the Parliamentary inquiry into health funding in Canberra today, ANF federal secretary Jill Iliffe said nurses strongly support a health care system that allows universal access to quality, affordable health care.

‘Nurses know the health system and they know how to care for people but they don’t understand why, in such a prosperous country, our health care system is failing so many. They don’t understand why their workloads are so high making it harder to provide the basics to patients in shorter amounts of time.’

Ms Iliffe told the inquiry the health care system was in urgent need of reform. The reform process required a collaborative approach between all levels of government, she said.

‘We need to agree on the ground rules before re-building the health care system. The first step should be the establishment of a health care reform commission with a mandate to explore the options, consult with the public and health care professionals. The commission should report on how funding is allocated to best deliver health care when and where it is needed.’

Health care funding must include educating a new generation of nurses, Ms Iliffe said.

‘We need another 3,600 nursing places, in addition to the Prime Minister’s announcement on mental health earlier this week. Almost half of the current nursing workforce will be retiring in the next 10-15 years. The government is well aware of the current skills shortage in nursing but has a short sighted approach to addressing the long term implications of not funding significantly more nursing places.’

Media inquiries
Jill Iliffe, Federal Secretary 0419 576 590
Victoria Gillmore, Federal Liaison Officer 0409 221 699