The Government’s planned health restructuring and administrative upheavals will soak up a huge chunk of the public health funding set out in today’s budget according to ACT Health Spokesman Hon Ken Shirley.

“The spending announced today will be wasted on offices, desks and bureaucrats rather than hips or hearts. The Government has not even managed to cost its great backwards leap in health. The cost of the restructuring will be massive and will soak up money needed for operations.

“Nurses and doctors are also expecting wage claims of up to 10% when the Government’s Employment Relations Bill is introduced. Those pay increases will come out of the budget spending announced today.

Ken Shirley said that all trends would indicate a serious deterioration in the public health system under this Government with a mass exodus of health professionals already under way.

“The main reasons for delays in elective surgery is not money but the system and administration. The forthcoming structural upheavals and exodus of professionals will compound a deteriorating situation. Annette King, as Minister, has failed to present a justification for her backward and illogical reforms.

“Her sketchy programme for health is hopelessly behind the times and inadequate costings have been provided,” he said.

“Health is all about the adequacy of services for people in need and this budget completely fails to address those needs,” said Ken Shirley.

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