THE Federal Government’s planned cuts to health haven’t even come into force yet, but are already causing confusion and fear, particularly among the elderly.
That’s according to the secretary of the Port Macquarie branch of Country Labor, Colleen Carmody.
Ms Carmody said she already knew of one pensioner who almost did not go to his doctor after experiencing heart-attack-like symptoms because he was worried about the $7 GP payment, wrongly believing it was already in force even though the measure still has to pass the Senate before it can be adopted.
“The Coalition Government’s cuts to health are already starting to hurt the Mid North Coast with GP clinics reporting a considerable downturn in consultations following the budget announcement of a $7 GP tax,” she said.
“Already we are seeing people refusing to seek medical care from their GP. Australians believe, quite rightly, that healthcare should be available for those who need it, not just those who this Coalition Government decides can afford it.
“The GP tax will shift treatment and costs to hospital emergency departments, at much greater expense to the public purse.”
Ms Carmody hoped the Senate would refuse to pass the $7 GP payment and measures she believed impacted unfairly on those on lower incomes.
