Country hospital criticised by Queensland Coroner

This is a local hospital to me, I have had to take myself there for treatment when I've been suffering from SVT.

I have no complaints about the hospital or my treatment in the hospital.

Reading the report in the local paper I was surprised that the coroner found fault with the hospital. Mental health patients and drug overdose patients (and many of the mental health patients do suffer from drug abuse issues due to, or because of, their mental illness), have nowhere to go. The hospital can not assist patients who leave the hospital, no matter how ill they are, the same as Ambulance officers cannot take anyone to hospital if they refuse to go to hospital. To have someone sectioned they need to be held by police (the only people permitted to hold anyone against their will), and they need to have a GP and a JP, or magistrate, to certify that they are a danger to themselves or others.

More here.

Coroner's Inquest Findings here. I don't agree with this particular finding.

"Bradley went to the Gatton Hospital on three occasions in the early morning
before his death. He was treated for dehydration on the first occasion, but self
discharged himself. He returned twice, reporting that he had taken pills.
I find that the inaction of the staff at the Gatton Hospital, and in particular Nurse Lorenzen, when Bradley re-attended contributed to his death."

Rudd's going save the hospitals

Rudd's amazing hospital rescue plan... because the ALP state governments are useless.

SAMANTHA HAWLEY: Doctor Blewett says he's long argued for a single hospital funding pool and the payment to hospitals on a per patient basis.

NEAL BLEWETT: It removes what is one of the great weaknesses of the system. That is the buck passing between the states and the Commonwealth.

SAMANTHA HAWLEY: It's very close, of course, this announcement to the next election, what are the chances that we'll see any tangible changes before we actually go to the polls?

it's gonna cost us... surprise, surprise...

TONY EASTLEY: Crucial to the Prime Minister's health reform is funding and there are reports this morning his scheme involves the states and territories surrendering a slice of their current GST revenue.

Already he's admitted he's gearing up for a fight and he may ''cop a bit of stick'' for his health reform agenda.

He's certainly kept the details close to his chest. The states and territories haven't been briefed and federal Cabinet is meeting in Canberra this morning to sign off on the blueprint.

and Joe Hockey points out...

JOE HOCKEY: Well the first question that needs to be asked today is where is Kevin Rudd getting the money from? He's running deficit budgets, which are putting upward pressure on interest rates.

He's got a huge tax review in the form of Henry coming and obviously he's got to service his debt. So where is this magic pool of money that Kevin Rudd says is a great substitute for the black hole in the health system? Where's it coming from?

Did I hear a figure today of $8B? Joe's right. Where is this coming from? *

All Anna Bligh can say about it is that the money from Queensland should stay in Queensland... it'll be interesting if Queensland needs more money than is raised from Queensland...

*Update
Okay, Rudd's going to strip the states of $50B to fund the hospitals. After the batt and school hall debacles how are the hospitals going to be?