NSW: Hospital admission cuts will help recovery times: govt

AAP General News (Australia)
12-17-2008
NSW: Hospital admission cuts will help recovery times: govt

The NSW government says a state health strategy aimed at cutting hospital admissions
by 30 per cent will help people recover quicker at home.

The program aims to reduce avoidable admissions for patients suffering seizures ..

chest pain .. pneumonia .. bronchitis and eight other conditions .. encouraging them to
enter home care.

Health Minister JOHN DELLA BOSCA says the strategy .. devised after a series of pilot
projects in hospitals across NSW .. shows patients prefer home-based care with support
from families and carers.

Mr DELLA BOSCA says .. for example .. people treated at home for bronchitis and asthma
avoid the stress of admission to hospital .. and experience a speedier recovery in home
surroundings and assistance from their GPs.

However doctors groups and the opposition question whether there's enough money to
fund the scheme .. and fear it'll add more bureaucracy to the struggling health system.

AAP RTV eb/evt/af/fdf

KEYWORD: DOCTORS (SYDNEY)

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