Cash call for rural health services

INDI Independent federal MP Helen Haines has presented a package of measures focused on improving regional healthcare and workforce supply with the launch of her Health Policy this week. Dr Haines said in regional and rural Australia, the health needs of communities are growing, but health services are falling behind and leaving outdated facilities, insufficient training places and healthcare students struggling to train locally. “Indi does not have enough doctors, nurses, psychologists and allied health workers to care for our community and the result is people waiting too long, spending too much and travelling too far to access necessary healthcare," she said. “I’m putting forward practical plans for the next government to provide the quality care our regions need.” The current government introduced a 'prac payment' policy to pay students studying courses such as nursing and midwifery when they undertake the long work-placements required to fulfil their degrees. Dr Haines will work towards extending this to other allied health professionals who are also required to do long placements to become qualified. Central to Dr Haines' health platform is a $2 billion Building Rural Hospitals fund, including money for new buildings, equipment and planning. “The current funding system isn’t working for many rural and regional health services across Indi and regional Australia," she said. “The Commonwealth provides billions of dollars in funding to city hospitals, but we don’t see the same commitment for rural health services that are essential to providing care close to home." Dr Haines' announcement has been criticised by by Liberal candidate for Indi, James Trenery, who said it was another unfunded and uncosted policy. "We need to ask serious questions around the so called ‘commitments’ Helen Haines is making to the people of Indi," Mr Trenery said. "Is the $2 billion hospitals fund announced today real money, funded in the budget? "If not, how is the program funded? "Is there a timeline for its delivery?" Mr Trenery said two years ago Dr Haines announced “a bold vision to train and retain our regional health workforce”. "So far, nothing has happened, no money has been delivered and the policy is at a standstill," he said. "In fact, this same policy has been re-announced again today."