Up to 30 per cent of patients in ACT hospitals could be treated more cheaply at home according to a health discussion paper to be issued today by Liberal MLA Jeremy Hanson.
The State of our Health paper describes an ailing and dysfunctional health system, which will falter without changes.
Mr Hanson said four public forums would be held this year to address question raised in the paper and ultimately shape the Opposition's health policy.
''By underfunding and under-resourcing in the spectrum of preventative health that means ... all routes end up in hospital.
''Either because there is nowhere else to go or because illness that could have otherwise been prevented are not being prevented,'' Mr Hanson said.
He said community forums were to best way to get expert opinions on key health areas including primary, mental, preventive, aged care and e-health.
Mr Hanson said the Liberals were considering a number of ideas, including incentives for Canberrans with private health insurance and caps on emergency room waiting times. ''In the UK GPs are incentivised on results ... GPs are accessed for results. If doctors are able to reduce blood pressure or weight and demonstrate achieving positive health outcomes, they are incentivised,'' he said.
The first forum on primary health will be on March 30 at the Legislative Assembly. The discussion paper is available here.
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