Defend Medicare on World Health Day

Date: 07 April 2004

Today marks World Health Day and it is a timely reminder to reflect upon the importance of defending Medicare.

Today marks World Health Day and the Queensland Council of Unions has urged Queenslanders to reflect upon the importance of a universal health system and of the need to defend Medicare against continued attacks by the Howard Government.

The theme for the 2004 World Health Day is "Road Trauma", a theme which particularly highlights the important role that public hospitals play in such serious medical events.

QCU Assistant General Secretary Chris Barrett said it was important to understand the pressures on public hospitals and the dependence placed upon them when urgent medical assistance was required.

"The theme of "Road Trauma" is a significant one in that anyone, regardless of their income status, will more than likely be taken to a public hospital should they be involved in a road accident.

"Figures obtained from Queensland Health indicate that in the period July 2002 - June 2003 2,626 motor vehicle accident victims were treated at public hospitals for more than a 24 hour period.

"These figures also don't account for the many thousands more involved in motor vehicle accidents who presented at these hospitals and did not require hospitalisation.

"We also need to understand that road trauma is only one type of serious health event - there are many more that present at public hospitals.

"These figures indicate the strain placed on the public health system and surely present and overwhelming case for better resourced public hospitals."

Mr Barrett said that members of Queensland Health Unions would be commemorating World Health Day with a lunchtime barbeque at the Royal Brisbane Womens Hospital today.

"Members will be gathering to pass a resolution condemning the Howard Government's continued undermining of Medicare.

"It's important to acknowledge the need for a properly-resourced public health system and unions will continue to campaign in support of universal health care."

World Health Day Union Event Details - April 7

Where: Royal Brisbane Womens Hospital
Ned Hanlon Building, Level 2 physio pool
When: 12:30pm - 1:30pm

For further information

Contact:	Tania Reeves
Union:	Queensland Council of Unions
Phone:	07 3846 2468
Email:	Taniar@qcu.asn.au
WWW:	http://www.qcu.asn.au

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