Fed: Australians sick of healthcare excuses, Rudd says

AAP General News (Australia)
04-14-2010
Fed: Australians sick of healthcare excuses, Rudd says

SYDNEY, April 14 AAP - Australians are sick of hearing excuses about delays in reforming
the nation's healthcare system, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says.

Mr Rudd and NSW Premier Kristina Keneally stood side by side at Gosford Hospital, on
the NSW Central Coast, to announce funding for cancer services in the area.

After long talks with the prime minister on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, Ms
Keneally said, negotiations about health reform were continuing but but all premiers and
first ministers accepted that a change was needed.

Victorian Premier John Brumby appears to be the major sticking point in the negotiations
between the states and commonwealth.

He says the reform plan will take his state backwards and there is no hope of an agreement.

But Mr Rudd said failure to reach agreement at next week's Council of Australian Governments
(COAG) meeting would be bad for doctors, patients and families.

"You know something else, people right across our country are sick and tired of excuses
for delay on fundamental reform to the health and hospitals system," Mr Rudd told reporters.

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KEYWORD: HOSPITALS RUDD UPDATE

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