PM: We've got a big job ahead of us as far as National Health and Hospitals Reform is concerned. Prior to the last election we said there were real stresses in the system. And therefore, we commissioned the National Health and Hospital Reform Commission to look at it root and branch, and systemically. That is, if we are trying to prepare for the next generation of health challenges, how do we do it best? And they've provided us with their report and its conclusions and its recommendations about three weeks ago. We're now putting it out to the public, and wanting the public's response. In particular, we want the medical profession's response, we want the nursing profession's response, we want responses from acute hospitals like this, because you are so much of the front line of what the nation does.
PM: Now, your treatment here, is it all going okay?
PATIENT: Yeah, it's going great. The only problem is that it takes a while to get in because of a bed shortage.
PM: No, I understand.
PATIENT: And they've got guys out there parked somewhere that have got problems that they need to get in.
PM: Well that's one of the reasons we're out this morning to see what extra resources the hospital systems need. You've got a span of care from, you know, here to there, from the sort of initial treatment through to surgical intervention. How do we integrate that better so that it's best for you, in terms of the community as well. It's easier to say than it is to do.
PATIENT: Yeah sure.
PM: But we're setting out as a reform goal for the future, so it's more personal, patient-focussed.
PM: The process from here is a national conversation which is primarily about us listening to you about what you think about this. Both in forums like this, but online as well.