While NSW Health Minister Ryan Park blames overworked workers the Australian Medical Association (AMA) says the NSW Health budget is “failing to meet patient demand” and underpaid nursing staff are being forced to strike for a fair pay deal.

NSW AMA President Dr Kathryn Austin said too many services remained desperately underfunded, following the Bureau of Health Information’s first-quarter data release in May.

See also

“Our health system is held together by the goodwill of treating professionals,” Austin said. “But with demand continuing to rise to record levels and a lack of funding … it is becoming increasingly impossible for the doctors and health workers of NSW to deliver the care that the citizens of this state deserve.”

In the subsequent June 2024-25 budget, NSW Health was allocated “a record” $35.1 billion. But critics say the cheque is not nearly as big as it looks.

NSW AMA Vice President Dr Fred Betros said the budget was another blow to the already ailing health system. “This year’s (2024-25) health budget of $31,873 billion is a 2.97% increase on last year’s budget of $30,951 billion,” Betros said. “It falls below actual health CPI,” he said, “meaning that after health inflation this is an effective loss.”

While what looks like more money for hospitals always passes the pub test, the reality is that the provision of health services in rural areas repeatedly........

© Green Left Weekly