Medicare petition is presented

Member for Peats Ms Marie Andrews recently presented the Premier, Mr Bob Carr, with more than 1000 signatures from local families concerned about the Federal Government's proposed changes to Medicare and its impact on bulk billing.

These signatures were part of more than 25,000 gathered by State Labor MPs.

Mr Carr forwarded the petition to Senator Jan McLucas, chair of the Senate select committee inquiring into Medicare.

"Every year since the election of the Howard Government, bulk billing rates have decreased," said Ms Andrews.

"In the federal electorate of Robertson, the bulk billing rate has fallen from 80.9 per cent in March 2000 to 60.7 per cent in March 2003, which is lower than the current Australian average of 68 per cent.

"In the 10 years from 1992 to 2002, our population has increased by 19 per cent while the number of GPs dropped by 17 per cent.

"At the moment, one in every five patients who visit a hospital emergency department is there to seek basic medical treatment that could have been provided by a GP.

"There is also unnecessary pressure on our hospitals because of the shortage of aged care beds on the Central Coast," she said.

Press release, August 29