Health care cuts ‘only option’

BARWON Health faces a “Mission Impossible” task as it tries to find ways to cut spending following a $4.9 million federal razor attack on its budget, according to Victorian Health Minister David Davis.
Canberra has justification the cut on an 11,000 fall in Victoria’s population last year but Commonwealth statistics show it grew by 75,000.
The hospital appears set to cut about 13 beds, the equivalent of at least half a ward.
The cuts could double waiting time for elective surgery and include job losses.
At least 500 people awaiting orthopaedic surgery could see their times pushed from six months out to a year.
Barwon Health has presented Sate Government with options to accommodate the federal cuts but is awaiting approval.
Barwon Health chair Dr John Stekelenberg gold staff the proposal included “bed closures, a slowdown of elective surgery and a potential reduction of other services across the organisation, coupled with a likely freeze on recruitment”.
He also called on staff to notify managers of any potential savings.
A spokesperson said Barwon Health expected a State Government decision on the proposal within a fortnight.
Mr Davis this week attacked the Gillard Government for leaving Geelong with service cuts as its only option.
“When Canberra announced its funding cuts and its refusal to back down I asked hospital board chairs to work with their CEOs to develop plans to deal with the reduction. I asked them to protect services wherever possible but they’re telling me this is fast becoming Mission Impossible.”
Mr Davis said wards and beds were already closing and hospitals were working on plans to shed staff.
Corio Labor MP Richard Marles said the funding cuts were based on Census figures that both levels of government had agreed to use as a reference point.
“It’s pretty rich for the State Government to be complaining about health in the context of them having cut hundreds of millions in state funding while at same time the Federal Government is increasing health funding,” he said.