DR ANNE WEBSTER MP

SHADOW MINISTER FOR REGIONAL HEALTH
SHADOW MINISTER FOR REGIONAL COMMUNICATIONS

FEDERAL MEMBER FOR MALLEE

TOPICS: government underspending on regional health, health workforce shortages, aged care telephone assessments

Moore

Well, the National Rural Health Alliance has highlighted a significant healthcare funding gap between metropolitan and rural Australia, with governments spending more than $6,000 less per person annually in rural towns and a little over $1,200 less per person across regional areas. Shadow Minister for Regional Health and Regional Communications. Dr Anne Webster joins us on the program, Good morning, doctor.

Webster

Good morning. Craig. How are you?

Moore

I am well, thank you, and thank you for asking. But for us who are living in these regional parts of this great land of ours, those numbers, the figures, and the less amount of spending, that's somewhat alarming.

Webster

Well, it is alarming and the total underspend that the National Rural Health Alliance have come up with is $9 billion in regional areas than in metro. That is outrageous. Every person who lives in a regional area, knowing that there is anywhere - depending on the size of the town that you live in - $6,000 or maybe $1,200 less per person per year, and the gap is widening year on year. So the government is doing nothing about that inequity, though they're very good, I'm sure you're aware, at talking about equity, and it's not happening in our health services. Consequently, we have more people dying younger in the regions, and, you know, if you want some numbers to that, 678 deaths deaths of males in outer regions compared to 576. That's 100 men a year who are dying when they wouldn't be dying in metro circumstances and women not too different.

Moore

It's almost like saying that my health in a regional area is not valued as much as those in a capital city.

Webster

Absolutely.

Moore

The way government, you know, if I'm going to be perfectly frank about this, the bureaucrats think it's easier, it's more efficient. they can spend less for more people in a compact area.

Webster

Well, that might be nice on a ... piece of paper, a budget paper, but it's not okay when you live in the regions. We should expect to have equal access to healthcare, quality healthcare out in our regions. And I certainly am a serious promoter of that taking place. And I can tell you what, nothing gets me more angry than this circumstance, which is getting worse year on year for those who live in the regions.

Moore

Anne, let's face it ... 13 minutes to nine. Shadow Minister of Regional Health and Regional Communications, Dr Anne Webster, is with us this morning. One of the other startling aspects, and doesn't help here, I'm sure, is that Regional Australians, they continue to face a shortage of doctors, specialists, allied health professionals and even aged care services.

Webster

Absolutely, and in terms of aged care we have less workforce, as you say, and therefore a small number of people able to actually access aged care out in the regions. I've run three... health summits in my time as a Shadow for Regional Health and I can tell you what people who live in the country - particularly in aged care - when they are being assessed by phone again because it's convenient for the bureaucrats to set up this kind of system and for the current government to endorse it, that people who need to be seen to be able to get around their home do the dishes manage whatever the day-to-day activities might be, that is being assessed, their function is being assessed by phone. And then that phone is going into an algorithm as we know which legally cannot be humanly overridden. If that doesn't cause alarm bells to go off for everybody who is listening, I don't know what does. It is completely inconceivable to me that somebody who may be hobbling around on a walking frame, who may not be steady on their feet. being assessed as to their function and to whether they need support at home or home support packages Commonwealth home support packages or actually should be directed potentially to residential aged care that is being done on the phone I mean honestly who is being done on the phone. I mean, honestly, who thought this stuff up?

Moore

Wasn't you and it wasn't me, but we're going to have to leave it there. But we're grateful for your time this morning and thanks for sharing it with us.

Webster

Thank you.

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