‘Scorched earth’: What the state’s health funding squeeze means for rural health

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Health outcomes for people in regional areas are already poorer than the city. Here’s why they may get much worse.

Rural healthcare providers face having to slash opening hours and scale back vital services in response to looming cost increases as the state government seeks to rein in health spending.

In western Victoria, Balmoral Bush Nursing Centre president Tom Silcock said key services were at risk unless the Allan government increased his centre’s funding.Silcock said his centre was now facing a $200,000 funding shortfall with increased costs weighing heavily on the service’s budget.Last financial year, the service posted operating revenue of just over $1 million with a $16,000 deficit. The state government delivered almost 70 per cent of its income.

“It also might mean people will resort to the internet to do some self diagnosing which is dangerous,” she said. He said some people may be unable to travel long distances to the nearest major hospital if they lived in remote areas. “What it can mean is that people defer or completely put off treatment.”

 

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