Media Release: 20 April 2010

Government must now get on with the business of health

The Australian Nursing Federation congratulates the federal and state governments for reaching an agreement to seriously begin the health reform process.

However the time has now come to deliver on health in all sectors. That includes robust policy in primary and preventative health, hospitals, mental health, aged care and community health.

Federal Secretary Ged Kearney said it was time to take a broader view on health reform.

“We applaud the historical achievement reached today and support the federal and state governments in their bid to revolutionize health in Australia,” Ms Kearney said.

“But now it’s time to discuss the true objective of this discourse and that is how to keep people healthier and out of hospital? And what is the best way to achieve all this? We look forward to hearing more policy on these significant issues.”

Ms Kearney said the largest health workforce, nurses, should be at the forefront of the debate.

“Nurses are experiencing increasing workloads in many sectors especially in hospitals and aged care,” she said.

“Often they are finishing their workdays with a sense of frustration and disappointment. The result is that many are leaving their chosen career.

“The focus of the healthcare debate should be about the public who rely on the health system.”.

Media Contact
Eleni Hale, Media Advisor, 0458 892 999

 

The ANF, with 175,000 members, is the professional and industrial voice for nurses and midwives in Australia.