Devonport seniors today joined Minister for Ageing, Justine Elliot and Member for Braddon Sid Sidebottom to discuss the Gillard Government’s health and aged care reforms which mean better support and better care for older Australians.
Minister Elliot said: “Older Australians are among the first and the biggest beneficiaries of the Government’s health reforms.
“We believe older Australians deserve better. Better health services and better aged care services and that is why we are getting on with the job of reforming our health, hospitals and aged care system.
“Local Hospital Networks, local aged care services and primary care services will work together to provide better care to older Australians.
“A strong economy and decisive action by the Government during the global financial crisis has enabled these important investments to be made, providing a fairer share and more support for older Australians and their families,” Minister Elliot said. Member for Braddon Sid Sidebottom said: “Almost 15 per cent of Tasmania’s population is aged 65 years and over and the Government’s reforms will build a health system that people can rely on, one that extends care beyond the hospital door.
“The Labor Government has already delivered the most significant reforms to the pension system in its 100 year history. For more than 20,000 pensioners in Braddon, these reforms have delivered increases of up to $100 a fortnight for single pensioners and $74 a fortnight for couples combined.
“Now we are working on reforms that will help older Australians have better health, hospitals and aged care services”, Mr Sidebottom said.
Minister Elliot explained how the Government’s investment of more than $900 million over the next four years will build a seamless national aged care system covering basic care at home through to high level residential care.
Minister Elliot said: “We are building a national aged care system with more aged care places, more highly skilled aged care workers, better access to GP and health services and stronger protections for those receiving care.
“The Government is also making it easier for older Australians and their carers to find the services that best suit their need by establishing one-stop shops for aged care information and assessment,” Minister Elliot said.
Delivering better health and aged care in Braddon
Last year more than 1,180 older people in Braddon received aged care services
This Government last year provided:
+ More than $35 million to aged and community care providers to provide care;
+ $5 million for a GP Super Clinic in Devonport;
+ $791,800 of elective surgery funding for the North Western Regional Hospital for surgical equipment; and
+ More than $684,000 was provided to support four respite services.
Souce: Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing
No comments:
Post a Comment