{"id":19620,"date":"2012-12-18T18:45:51","date_gmt":"2012-12-18T08:45:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=19620"},"modified":"2023-11-30T15:58:34","modified_gmt":"2023-11-30T05:58:34","slug":"horan-warns-pm-over-health-cuts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2012\/12\/18\/horan-warns-pm-over-health-cuts\/","title":{"rendered":"Horan Warns PM Over Health Cuts"},"content":{"rendered":"

December 18, 2012<\/strong><\/p>\n

Queensland Hospital and Health Boards have written to Prime Minister Julia Gillard to warn against the negative impact of Commonwealth funding cuts \u2013 including a threat to Hospital Emergency Department performance.<\/p>\n

A total of 17 boards control Queensland Hospital and Health Services (HHS), defined under a National Health Care Agreement and recognised by State and Commonwealth governments.<\/p>\n

The chair of the body established to represent the joint interests of boards state-wide, Darling Downs chairman Mike Horan, says the cuts will claw back $103 million from HHS budgets in the seven remaining months of 2012-13.<\/p>\n

Writing on behalf of all Queensland Hospital and Health Service chairs, Mr Horan told the Prime Minister the cuts were inconsistent with the National Agreement and its underpinning principles of transparency of funding and performance.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe wish to advise our serious concerns regarding the negative impact that the funding cuts will have on the delivery of public sector health services in Queensland, and in particular their imposition halfway through the financial year, when funding has already been budgeted and allocated,\u201d Mr Horan wrote.<\/p>\n

He questioned the population data underpinning the cuts.<\/p>\n

\u201cQueensland continues to experience significant population influxes, particularly in regional Queensland due to the effects of the mining industry,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Under the National Health Reform Agreement, HHS are responsible for health service delivery and budget management.<\/p>\n

\u201cService Agreements have been publicly available for a number of months, providing both our communities and staff with clear expectations about the level of funding to be provided in return for a specific range of services,\u201d Mr Horan said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn line with the national health reform agenda, Queensland\u2019s HHS have been working hard to find efficiencies and make structural reforms in preparation for National Activity-Based Funding and the introduction of the National Efficient Price.\u201d<\/p>\n

He said boards recognised the importance of improving efficiency and the long term sustainability of the health system. \u201cHowever, we will find it extremely difficult to avoid a reduction in services as a result of the cuts to our budgets from the Commonwealth and Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook for 2012-13,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The impact of the Federal Government\u2019s decision was compounded because the loss of funding was retrospective, he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are extremely concerned about the impact of the cuts on achievement of the National Emergency Access and Elective Surgery Targets,\u201d Mr Horan wrote.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe ask that the Commonwealth reconsider its decision and at a minimum immediately review the population assumptions on which the funding reductions were made.\u201d<\/p>\n