Fed: Hospitals under strain in Vic, Qld, amid bulkbill decline

AAP General News (Australia)
12-30-2003
Fed: Hospitals under strain in Vic, Qld, amid bulkbill decline

The federal opposition says hospital emergency departments in Victoria and Queensland
are under massive strain because of a collapse in bulk billing.

New figures show Victorians and Queenslanders have suffered most from the fall in bulk
billing rates.

Victoria lost about one million free doctor visits over the three years to September
this year, while Queensland doctors gave about 800,000 fewer free consultations.

Acting opposition leader JENNY MACKLIN says the decline in free consultations means
people are going to hospital emergency departments when they should see a GP.

She says it's also a concern that people who didn't want to wait for long periods in
emergency departments often didn't see a doctor at all.

Ms MACKLIN says the decline in bulk billing rates shows the HOWARD government is bent
on destroying Medicare.

AAP RTV bp/dk/lma/rp

KEYWORD: BULKBILL (MELBOURNE)

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