ACEM anticipates that healthcare will be a priority issue and will continue to push for federal investment and support while continuing to work with colleagues across the healthcare sector in order to seek necessary and substantial reforms.
In a statement issued by ACEM outlining 2022 Federal Election priorities, the College continues to advocate better healthcare for older Australians in aged care, improved access to specialist disability accommodation through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and meaningful improvements in rural, regional and remote healthcare.
Older Australians in aged care must have access to high quality, primary and acute healthcare that meet their needs, reflects their health priorities and occurs where they want it. People with disability have the right to a place to live that meets their specific needs when too often they are stuck living in hospital wards due to extensive delays in receiving funded packages for suitable accommodation through the NDIS. ACEM will also continue to advocate for improvements to access to health in rural and regional settings, including direct funding for the expansion of primary care services.
Patient safety in hospitals continues to be a considerable concern brought on by bottlenecks (access block), overcrowding and ambulance’s lined up outside emergency departments across the country. This continues as a consequence of a healthcare system in need of fundamental attention and improvements.
ACEM President Dr Clare Skinner said, “Emergency departments provide vital services that operate within an entire healthcare ecosystem. If one part struggles or fails, it impacts other parts of the system. I am incredibly proud of how staff across the health system have responded to a pandemic. But we must recognise the strain the system is under. This is an emergency, and we need parties and voters to respond accordingly.”
"As Australia heads to the polls, we call on parties, candidates and the voting public to prioritise our health system. An investment in a streamlined system to support patients and staff will help to address systemic issues and shortcomings in hospital emergency departments as well as fundamentally support staff who work in them, to treat people in a timely and effective manner."
Background:
ACEM is the peak body for emergency medicine in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand, responsible for training emergency physicians and advancement of professional standards. www.acem.org.au