NSW: Rees calls for national health body

AAP General News (Australia)
12-02-2009
NSW: Rees calls for national health body

By Nick Ralston, State Political Reporter

SYDNEY, Dec 2 AAP - NSW Premier Nathan Rees is proposing Australia's healthcare system
should be run by a single body overseeing regional health authorities, saying his plan
would put an end to blame-shifting.

Mr Rees said his envisaged National Health Commission wouldn't result in a "federal
takeover" of health but would involve both levels of government, clinical experts and
community groups setting policy directions.

All current health funding would be pooled and then allocated to regional health authorities
- based on existing area health service boundaries.

Regional health authorities would then integrate all health care including prevention
and screening through to GPs, allied health, hospitals, rehabilitation and aged care.

"This would provide a seamless patient journey, ensuring care matches patient needs,
rather than bureaucratic silos," Mr Rees told parliament.

"The current incentives for cost-shifting and blame-shifting would be reduced if not eliminated."

Mr Rees said he was willing to trial the concept in one of NSW's area health services,
saying he believed the reform model would forever change the nature of health care in
Australia.

And while stressing his proposal was "genuine", Mr Rees said the detail would have
to be worked through with the other states and the commonwealth.

"Let's get beyond the false dichotomy between a federal takeover and states' rights," he said.

"Let's build a wellness system, instead of just a health system.

"A system based on quality care planned locally and delivered locally."

In the lead-up to the 2007 federal election, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said Canberra
would consider taking over the hospital system if the states did not lift their game.

However, a National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission's report, released in July,
stopped short of calling for a full federal takeover of hospitals.

But under reforms suggested by the commission, the commonwealth will take over responsibility
for all primary care and outpatient services, as well as a public dental system.

It has also left open the option of the commonwealth funding 100 per cent of hospital
admissions further down the track.

Mr Rees said on Wednesday that the report was a "good start", but the reform process
must go "even further".

Opposition health spokeswoman Jillian Skinner said Mr Rees' proposal sounded more like
a "thought bubble", saying it lacked framework, costings and no detailed planning.

AAP nr/evt/jl

KEYWORD: HEALTH

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