Vic: Patients worse off because of Commonwealth, Thwaites

AAP General News (Australia)
12-23-1999
Vic: Patients worse off because of Commonwealth, Thwaites

Victorian health minister JOHN THWAITES says hospital waiting lists will become even
longer because the federal government has reneged on a deal to increase funding.

Federal Health Minister MICHAEL WOOLDRIDGE today announced funding for hospital supplies
and infrastructure to the states which amounted to only half of what an independent arbiter
had recommended.

Victoria will receive $14 million for the year, instead of the $28 million it had been
expecting, to pay for the costs of hospital supplies, such as bandages.

Mr THWAITES has accused Dr WOOLDRIDGE of ripping off patients and says hospitals won't
have enough money to pay the increased costs of the bandages and goods and supplies they
need to treat patients.

He says the result will be further cuts in hospitals, longer waits for patients and
a threat to quality of care.

AAP RTV jlw/jn

KEYWORD: HOSPITALS FUNDING VIC (MELBOURNE)

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