FED:Gillard says buck stops with her on health

AAP General News (Australia)
02-14-2011
FED:Gillard says buck stops with her on health

Prime Minister JULIA GILLARD has begun selling her new 20 billion dollar hospitals
funding deal with the states and territories .. saying the buck stops with her.

She emerged from a marathon meeting with premiers yesterday promising more hospital
beds and local control .. under an agreement which includes a national pool of state and
federal money to fund hospitals from 2012 .. and targets for emergency departments and
elective surgery.

In a round of interviews today .. she's admitted some of the targets will be hard to
meet .. but says it's up to her to make sure the money flows to public hospitals.

The Australian Medical Association says people shouldn't get hung up on targets ..

and the new deal will cut red tape and help put an end to the health blame game between
governments.

AAP RTV sld/rl/jmt

KEYWORD: HOSPITALS (CANBERRA)

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