In particular, the College urges urgent attention and investment in healthcare workforce, with a key focus on bolstering and retaining senior nursing workforce staff who form the backbone of the health system and have left the sector in droves, leading to a significant loss of vital skills.
In this initial analysis of, and response to, the Budget, ACEM will be focussing on commitments and investments in areas of federal responsibility that impact on dangerous emergency department (ED) overcrowding, acute hospital access block and ambulance ramping: aged care, mental health, the NDIS and rural, regional and remote healthcare (RRR).
Aged Care
Australians deserve safe housing and healthcare where and when they need it – whatever their age.
Acknowledging the significant investment announced in last year’s budget, ACEM welcomes the $468.3 million commitment to further implement the Government’s response to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, including the $22m investment for new models of multidisciplinary outreach into residential aged care facilities (RACFs) and $7.5 million for the Palliative Care Service Navigation Pilot to trial models for improved coordination of palliative care.
Despite the announcement of $49.5 million over two years to provide an additional 15,000 low and fee-free training places in aged care courses, ACEM remains concerned that the aged care workforce remains under significant strain and believes that longer term investment is required to build and retain a high-quality workforce of clinical and care staff.
It is a national shame that Australia’s aged care system is producing such inconsistent levels of care. To amend this requires massive commitment and investment to ensure aged persons receive the support they deserve.
Mental health
ACEM welcomes the federal budget investments towards improvements in mental health. An initial analysis indicates an emphasis on important community-based services for mental illnesses like depression and anxiety. However, there is a notable absence of significant investment in services and treatments for severe, recurrent, or ongoing mental illness that require higher levels of care in clinical settings – and therefore have a greater impact on emergency departments.
Australia’s mental health system is in dire need of reform and investment across the entire spectrum of illness to ensure timely access to services for all community members.
NDIS
People with disability have the right to a place to live that meets their specific needs. However, too often across Australia, people with disability are stuck living in hospital wards because it takes an unacceptably long time to receive a NDIS plan, and once they have an approved NDIS plan, there is no suitable place for them live, or appropriate services available. Being stuck in hospital beds and simply waiting is terrible for the individual and it means that other people in the ED who need one get stuck in the ED, leading to access block and ambulance ramping.
While ACEM welcomes the statement that the Australian Government aimed to “fully fund the NDIS”, the College is greatly concerned at the lack of concrete commitments and urges the government to release details that ensure clarity regarding these commitments.
Rural, regional and remote (RRR) healthcare
The Australian public health system should offer the same healthcare to all Australians, wherever they live. However, this doesn’t happen, and there are well established examples of a lack of equity in RRR healthcare.
ACEM believes that the 2022 federal budget has not delivered the urgently required, impactful solutions for RRR healthcare.
ACEM welcomes the $224.4 million investment towards improving access to health services, to support doctors delivering primary care in rural and remote Australia, and to improve training opportunities in regional settings. Unfortunately, though, these investments will not solve the urgent problems in RRR healthcare workforce.
The College will continue to advocate for federal investment that allows for genuine health equity for rural, regional and remote areas.
ACEM’s federal healthcare priorities
The funding model for healthcare in Australia is complex and divides healthcare into areas that are funded either by state governments, areas that are paid for by the federal government, or a combination of both.
For the 2022 Federal Election, ACEM will be advocating for parties to commit to policies and investments in areas of federal responsibility that impact on dangerous emergency department (ED) overcrowding, acute hospital access block and ambulance ramping: aged care, mental health, the NDIS and rural, regional and remote healthcare (RRR). ACEM’s three key areas of focus are:
- Better healthcare for older persons in residential aged care.
- Better access to specialist accommodation and services through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) for people with disability.
- Better regional, rural and remote healthcare.
Systemic issues and shortcomings in these areas significantly impact the abilities of hospital emergency departments, and the staff who work in them, to treat people in a timely and effective manner and leads to poorer outcomes – including death.
ACEM President Dr Clare Skinner said, “ACEM welcomes the commitments aimed at improving the healthcare system. However, more must be done to make sure we have a health system that is safe and fair and accessible for all Australians.”
“Because what we are experiencing in public hospitals and healthcare systems across our country isn’t normal, it isn’t safe, and it can be fixed.”
Read more about ACEM’s 2022 Federal Election Priorities.
Background:
ACEM is the peak body for emergency medicine in Australia and New Zealand, responsible for training emergency physicians and advancement of professional standards. www.acem.org.au
Media Contact:
Melissa Howard [email protected] + 61 427 621 857