Socialized OZschwitz Medicine: Bed quotas coming to a hospital near you

THE opposition has used a Herald health debate to foreshadow introducing hospital bed occupancy quotas, which are recommended by the Australian Medical Association but not supported by national health reforms or the government.

Brian Owler, an AMA spokesman and neurosurgeon at Westmead Hospital, told the debate it was necessary to cap afternoon bed occupancy in hospitals at 85 per cent to allow for admissions through emergency wards at night. He described this as ''the only way you can have an efficient and safe hospital''.

The Health Minister, Carmel Tebbutt, said she recognised the need for available beds but did not support the quota: ''We're talking about scarce resources and if we're talking about future demand on the health system, my view is that the health system can't actually afford to have 85 per cent bed occupancy.''

But the opposition health spokeswoman, Jillian Skinner, hinted at the idea. ''I've heard that message, and we will be making announcements about more beds as the next weeks unroll,'' she said.

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Socialized OZschwitz Medicine: Bed quotas coming to a hospital near you

Socialized OZschwitz Medicine: Bed quotas coming to a hospital near you

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