[Greens-Media] Greens: Rees should use COAG to push for more primary health funding

[Alison Orme]

Greens MP Lee Rhiannon - 28 November 2008 - Media Release

Rees should use COAG to push for more primary health funding

Greens MP and health spokesperson Lee Rhiannon says Premier Nathan Rees must use tomorrow's COAG meeting to push for more funding for primary health, particularly for early intervention and prevention services, to arrest the crisis facing acute hospital care identified yesterday in the report by Commissioner Peter Garling SC yesterday.

"The Garling Report focused on acute care hospital services but the crisis will not dissipate unless the Rees government invests heavily in health prevention and early intervention services," Ms Rhiannon said.

"Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's offer to the states of $450 million for preventative health is a start, but much more is needed to arrest pressures on the NSW hospital system.

"2008 figures from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare show that NSW spending on public health as a proportion of total recurrent health spending is in decline, with NSW below the national average.

"The NSW government needs to tend to the entire health system to be successful in managing the health crisis.

"Hospital admissions, deaths and disease can be avoided with good primary health care services and campaigns. 

"Tobacco, high blood pressure, obesity and physical inactivity create disease and are clearly preventable with well crafted early intervention and health promotion campaigns. 

"NSW Health's own research shows that almost a quarter of all deaths, and 67.4% of deaths occurring before 75 years of age, are potentially avoidable.

"Putting money into preventative health makes good economic sense, with modelling showing that investing money in primary health saves costs in the long run. 

"Garling's model of 'the virtual hospital' to relieve pressure on hospitals is worthy, but we need a much more dedicated focus on public health to see a fundamental shift.

"A significant investment in primary health services is the key to managing NSW's budget and most importantly, the health of everyone in our community," Ms Rhiannon said.

For more information: 9230 3551, 0427 861 568


Alison Orme
Adviser, Greens MLC Lee Rhiannon (p/t Wed-Fri)
Macquarie St, Sydney 2000
Tel: +61-2-9230 3551 Fax: +61-2-9230 3550
Mobile: 0432 332 104
Email alison.orme at parliament.nsw.gov.au 
Web www.leerhiannon.org.au