Primary health care in Australia is the priority segment of the Australian health care system - and is the most ignored. Public hospitals, whilst having suffered from a significant decline in funding over the past decade at least, had the opportunity to practice early discharge of patients, thereby clearing beds (greater hospital efficiency) and offsetting some of the loss of funding.

General practice, with its ageing workforce, has become the new “outpatients” department as well as the core provider of chronic disease management for the entire community. The cost of this has been the loss of acute care access for the community.

And nothing has really changed. The GPs continue to work their hearts out - and some of them die too young and suddenly in the process.

One of the reasons that I had decided to stand for the Senate with the Climate Change Coalition is that the candidates agree that Australia needs long term vision, leadership and planning - on climate change (obvious for the CCC) as well as water, health care, education, infrastructure and the economy.

Australia continues to suffer from the same short term-ism and from a lack of vision that has held it back for many years.

The health of our nation needs a shot in the arm!

It doesn’t make much difference which level of government has formal responsibility, the one that can provide the mega bucks is the one that gets to decide. States/Territories will kick and squeal and generally try to make out that they can be the decision makers but, in their hearts, they know the truth.

The local government amalgamations across the country over the last 15 years or so has been brought on by the Feds. Running councils to provide services is not easy. The Fed Local Government grants program provides support that eases the burden on rate payers. That support has tightened over time forcing States/Territories, in turn, to force changes to make councils more efficient and effective but, perhaps, less accessible and representative.

Supply of doctors and health infrastructure generally? Same, same. Health is very costly. NT health funding has almost doubled in 6 years but the system still struggles.

Saving money so that you can bribe the populace to vote for you seems to me a poor priority - but maybe it’s a matter of perspective.

Donald, it was interesting that the amalgamated councils was a State initiative… it also came with an offer of training and support…. I agree that dealing with Canberra is a skill, but you have to wonder what will happen to all of those state government johnnies??? Do you feel a bidding war for the best of them or will they be absorbed elsewhere? Its an interesting question.

This is across the board in most qualifications.

Its too expensive to get a qualification these days. Not all kids leaving school have the support of mum and dad, or the financial aid.

John Howard - can’t wait until he’s gone.

In Qld at the moment, we are going through a process of amalgamation of local councils. I think stronger regional councils will be the perfect vehicle for local service delivery

Building buildings was going on when I was at university. It annoyed the heck out of me - extensions to the library, another Taj Mahal here and there. I would have much preferred that the money go into teaching positions, or student services.

It turns out that much of the money going to universities is in the form of tied grants (you have to dig really deep to find this out), so if the grant is for building works that is what they have to use it for, come what may.

The system is designed by lunatics.

I mentioned this blog post to them, they are pleased our forum is championing the cause, but are sceptical that it will yield a short term result… ie attract a GP to handle the patient load… I tend to agree…

This business of funding has me intrigued… at the QUT site… I found a link to their handbook… their handbook… and got this quote…

“Today, with a budget of $500 million pa, the university enrols 40,000 students ” - That is the whole university…

now the Uni Qld… The University of Queensland will receive more than 60 percent of the Federal Government funds for medical research announced for Queensland’s universities, hospitals and research institutions today (October 16).

it goes on… Federal Minister for Health and Ageing Tony Abbott announced 850 grants worth $529 million in NHMRC funding.

This is a pittance when you think its less than half the amount of money they are putting into the Brisbane tunnel. (It has been routed as route 1 to bring it into federal funding schemes…)

UQ are building buildings with some of it, which is wonderful if that translates to more seats…

I guess the problem is shortsightedness is contagious…. and there are many places to pass the buck.

Cheers.