Doctors are predicting increasing numbers of patients in public hospitals will suffer from life-threatening conditions - because, they say, waiting times for treatment are too long. Releasing a new report card today, the Australian Medical Association says projected federal spending is falling short of Australia's health needs.
The 2016 public hospital report card makes for grim reading.
In it, an "F" is marked across state and territory efforts to meet targets to see and treat emergency patients.
It also says doctors are feeling increasing pressure to handle more cases with fewer resources.
Dr Stephen Parnis is an emergency physician and vice president of the Australian Medical Association.
"Demoralising. There is an increasing level of cynicism. When you see elective cases that present to emergency that become emergencies. The arthritic hip that leads to a fall, which comes a fractured hip with the complications and risks going up exponentially. The gall bladder that should have come out a few months ago that has turned infective and led to inflammation of the pancreas - these are life threatening conditions that could be avoided."
