Friday, April 03, 2009

New era in patient care welcomed

Council on the Ageing NSW welcomes the announcement that the NSW Government promises to spend almost half a billion dollars over four years to fix the State’s hospital system.  In an unprecedented move, the government has agreed to adopt 134 of the 139 recommendations from the Garling Report.

An ongoing commitment by the NSW Government to patient care, with the ‘patient at the centre’ will commence today, much to the relief of practitioners and consumers alike.

COTA NSW President, Kath Brewster says, “Older people look forward to these reforms as a first step in creating a more effective and efficient health system,

“ A person centred health system is what we have been calling for over some time; today is the beginning of a new era where we can look forward to some changes that will ensure consumers are at the centre of  the health system, not at the mercy of it, ” said Kath Brewster.
 
“Council on the Ageing looks forward to the subsequent stages of implementation ensuring effective intergenerational planning.   We must plan to ensure a seamless progression along the continuum of health and aged care” said Ms Brewster “and the removal of the great divide between hospital and community care”. 
 
MEDIA CONTACT:   Anne-Marie Elias 0418 236 546.