The subsequent debate, sometimes hysterical, over responsibilities of state and federal jurisdictions, has dominated the issue. We've seen bickering over lack of detail, conspiracy theories, over-bureaucratising, under-funding, accusations of facility closures and much more.

And, to an extent, it is to be expected. Any major shift in policy must surely be heavily scrutinised. We are, in the end, discussing the health and welfare of the nation.

The essential criticisms of the Rudd Government's restructure in which one-third of GST revenues from the states and territories will be directly injected into hospitals, via local hospital networks are based on the fine detail, or lack thereof.

The Government has left itself wide open to criticisms because of it. And the cynicism applied to big government announcements during election years knows no bounds.

But, on the flipside, many, many stakeholders want to see change. It is an undeniable fact that our health system is sick: over-reliance on hospitals, long waiting lists, horror stories of misdiagnosis which in the end boils down to a stressed and overstretched medical profession.

The only cure is to take a radically new approach.

But as we focus more and more on the problems of the task, we should also step back and consider those working within the health-care system and the effects such commentary has on the morale of a profession which saves lives.

It's an old cliche, but we often cannot see the wood for the trees.

The amazing work being done at our own Canberra Hospital is too often overlooked. Consider the effort behind the scenes when a baby is born with the life-threatening complications of severe hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy, a condition developed through lack of oxygen during birth.

For more, pick up a copy of today's Canberra Times