Healthcare bruised

Co-payments to visit bulk billing GPs and an increase in the price of prescription medicines attracted most of the criticism, with even the Coalition government in NSW admitting concern over its federal counterpart's budget.

"There is no doubt there have been significant cuts to the funding of State hospitals in the federal government's budget," said NSW health minister Jillian Skinner.

"It is cost-shifting and NSW will have to accommodate a loss of more than $1 billion of the forward estimates for hospital services.

"I have spoken to the federal health minister... and advised him of my concerns," Mrs Skinner said.

"I am committed to looking at options as part of our integrated care strategy to ensure patients are getting the right treatment."

Rural Doctors Association of Australia (RDAA) vice president John Hall said the introduction of a $7 Medicare patient co-payment for GP consults was of serious concern to rural patients and rural doctors.

"The new arrangements will make it much more difficult for rural Australians to afford healthcare.

"It will also put additional pressure on rural practices and doctors, not only in terms of red tape, but also in terms of them having to cut already low consult fees for patients who simply cannot afford the co-payments."

Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation acting federal secretary Annie Butler said the Prime Minister had broken his election promise with cuts to healthcare.

"Co-payments will shift the cost burden onto individual consumers, and the Australian public hospital system overall, by driving more and more people into busy emergency departments," Ms Butler said.

"But as frontline healthcare professionals, nurses know people must seek treatment sooner rather than later, otherwise those so-called minor ailments develop into serious, often chronic, illnesses, which go on to require expensive care in hospitals."

Arthritis Australia and the Australian College of Nursing condemned the budget as well.

"The impact will be greatest on people with low incomes and those with chronic illnesses such as arthritis who need regular medical care to manage their condition," said Arthritis Australia chief executive Ainslie Cahill.

"We know many people with arthritis already struggle with the costs of managing their condition, and they are often on low incomes because their arthritis has forced them to work less or leave the workforce early," Ms Cahill said.

But there was some praise from RDAA.

"We certainly welcome the government's commitment to introduce two election promises of significant benefit to the rural health sector," Dr Hall said.

"A doubling of the Practice Incentives Program, teaching payment for doctors and practices providing training to medical students and young doctors - at a cost of $238.4 million - and the introduction of a new $52.5 million program of infrastructure funding for rural and remote practices, to enable the practices to build the facilities required to take on more trainee doctors."

Dr Hall welcomed the announcement the existing Medicare Locals system would be reformed, to be replaced by Primary Health Networks (PHN).

The NSW government confirmed funding for rural hospitals would continue, despite cutbacks in the federal budget.

"A further $1.2 billion is being invested in capital works this year, with a massive injection of funds to rebuild hospitals across the State - from Tamworth to Dubbo, Wagga Wagga to Bega, Blacktown Mt Druitt, Campbelltown and Hornsby - as well as planning underway at Westmead and elsewhere," Mrs Skinner said.