Senior Doctors Welcome New Health Minister

MEDIA STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE,
WEDNESDAY 19 OCTOBER 2005

“Senior Doctors Welcome New Health Minister”

“Senior doctors welcome the appointment of Peter Hodgson as the new Minister of Health in this most challenging of ministerial portfolios,” said Mr Ian Powell, Executive Director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists, today.

“We are keen to work actively alongside him in resolving the key issues facing the public health system. At the forefront is the serious shortage of doctor, nursing and other health professionals which is so critical in ensuring that patients have access to high quality care when they need it.”

“We need a more focused direction based on a health professional led approach to ensure that patients are accessing in a timely manner the full range of elective, chronic and acute services.”

“If Mr Hodgson recognises that the real added value and expertise in the health system comes from health professionals and he uses this to its fullest then he will be an excellent health minister,” concluded Mr Powell.

Ian Powell

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

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