The Quality of Healthcare Services in Australia - Assignment Example

? Number: Issues in Australian health services I carried out the survey as required by the whereby respondents were health professionals in different organization. Following the survey of issues in healthcare services in Australia; respondent gave varying accounts, which I have summed up into a related cluster. One of the main issues is the quality of healthcare in Australia. Most respondents saw this issue as a priority since Australia lags behind the developed economies like the U.K in terms of quality. Others viewed the changing population as affecting the quality of healthcare, as well as the rise in preventable diseases. The second issue is the rise of preventable diseases and health complications especially among the youth. Issues mentioned in this category are such as the increase in obesity among young children and adolescents, and high death rate resulting from cancer and TB. Sexually caused ailments like HIV/AIDS also fall under this category. They rank them as priorities since they are mostly affecting the younger generations, posing a threat on the future generations. The verity that these diseases can be avoided also makes them a priority as it only calls for a total lifestyle change to revert the situation. The final aspect entails health issues of Australian aboriginals. Indigenous people’s health was given priority since it has remained lower than that of non-aboriginals in many aspects. These are such as low life expectancy, high hospitalization rates and high infant mortality. Quality of care The quality of healthcare services in Australia falls below the populace expectations. Armstrong (2007) asserted that medical errors and lack of stability of care contribute to poor quality. A study carried out in 2009 set out that 17 percent of Australian believed that they faced a medical error in the past two years (Armstrong et al, 2007). While there have been developments in the quality of healthcare in Australia for decades, inefficiencies continue in several areas of the healthcare system. For illustration, financing arrangement promote excess investment in Medicare-funded services at the expense of cheaper services. There are also concerns that the number of hospitalization could be avoided and/ or shortened. Additionally, majority of Australia’s populace consider the quality of healthcare service offered as unacceptable. About 20 percent hold that the healthcare system needs to be totally reorganized, whilst fifty percent suppose that fundamental changes are necessitated (Willis, Reynolds & Keleher, 2009). Changes in population and disease patterns as the populace ages and the burden of chronic illnesses pose a challenge to healthcare services. The healthcare system also faces uncertainty with regards to how best to balance the private and public sector in terms of provision of health services. Understanding that equity in health and in particular for the aboriginal people calls for more than just offering healthcare services. Aboriginal people present a special group as a result of the many issues they face in healthcare. They thus require quality services in order to be at par with the general populace in terms of health. For this to be accomplished, it will require the search for effective and long term solutions to be reached through a consultative manner. Deciding on the country’s priority health problems and formulating a health system that will perfectly address them is an intricate affair that may compromise quality healthcare provision. Therefore, the quality of health is a delicate issue in Australian health services (Taylor, Foster & Fleming, 2008). Preventable diseases Australia healthcare is increasingly facing health issues that are preventable. A survey by the Australian institute of health and welfare in 2010 established that thirty percent of teenagers (13-17) are either obese or overweight. It is also anticipated that 65 percent of young adults in Australia will be overweight or obese by the year 2020. Obesity and overweight among teens results in increased probability of short and long term preventable ailments during adulthood. Obesity results from unhealthy food choices and inadequate or no physical activity. Alcohol and drug use is another preventable health issue facing Australian health services. A survey carried in 2007 shows that high risk drinking is fairly common among Australian population, majority being the young people. Alcohol use has ripple effects in other aspects of life and general health. For instance, alcohol intoxication results in increased motor vehicle accidents due to drunken driving, violence and other vices like suicide. Early drug use among teenagers is related to risky sexual behavior, crimes and poor school attendance, resulting in poor educational attainment (Smith et al, 2008). Drug use among teenagers has also been attributed to rising cases of mental disorders in the country. Tobacco use is a major cause of death among Australians, yet smoking is preventable. Smoking results in lung cancer and other chronic ailments that eventually lead to death. There is a high prevalence of unsafe sex among 13-17years teens according to Australian research conducted in 2008. Among the respondents, twenty five percent reported having sexual intercourse without using protective devices (condoms). The survey further revealed that there was a 13 percent increase in STI’s in 2008 from 2007. Untreated and undiagnosed STI’s may result in chronic illnesses and sometimes death. Chlamydia rates have increased significantly among teenagers. Chlamydia results in the long term sterility. Risky sexual behavior also increases prevalence and spread of HIV/ AIDS (Barraclough, & Gerdner, 2008). Aboriginals’ health The indigenous Australians experience low levels of access to health services than the rest of the populace. For instance, there is a higher possibility of aboriginals being hospitalized for most preventable conditions and diseases. Torres Strait islander people and aboriginal people experience high rates of infant mortality, which is three times higher than that of the general population. A survey carried out in 2010 revealed that aboriginal children born in the period 1998-2000 have a lower life expectancy of 19-21 years, compared to the general population. A policy dubbed the national aboriginal health strategy set out several issues and possible solutions on the various health issues concerning Australia’s indigenous people. The stratagem highlighted the structural foundations acknowledging the connection between of aboriginal health, rights over land, as well as dominance of indigenous people by foreigners (Koutoukidis, Stainton, & Hughson, 2012). The policy further held for indigenous community to have control of health services and research aspects associated with aboriginal people and their health. This policy was aimed at enhancing the above health concerns for the aboriginals. Nevertheless, the plan was ineffectively executed as a result of underfunding (Funnell, Koutoukidis, & Lawrence, 2008). The Maori group of indigenous people has a lower life expectancy than other non-Maori people by about 8.3 years. Aboriginal people face other health conditions that are lower among non-aboriginals. 12.4 percent of aboriginals aged 45 years and above suffer from dementia, whilst prevalence among non-aboriginal is 2.6 percent. In addition, 60percent of indigenous people are likely to die from all types of cancer than aliens. Majority of aboriginal youths are more prone to sexually transmitted ailments such as Chlamydia. Following the above statistics, it is clear that indigenous people represent a unique health concern that warrants attention (Dimitrakaki & Tountas, 2006). Conclusion Australian health services are facing numerous issues of quality, indigenous health and preventable diseases. Australian populace considers the quality of healthcare in the country as unacceptable. Changing population, aboriginal health inequalities and the ever increasing incidences of preventable and communicable diseases pose a challenge on the existing facilities. The aboriginals’ health status reveals special needs that require unique medical intervention. In comparison to the rest of the populace, indigenous people are disadvantaged health wise. The rising prevalence of preventable diseases and death related to such is an alarming health issue in Australia. Lung cancer, STI’s, HIV/AIDS, obesity and other preventable ailments are on the rise and represent an issue that needs to be addressed. Bibliography Armstrong, B.K. et al, 2007. Challenges in health and health care for Australia. Medical journal of Australia, 187(9), 485-489. Australia institute of health and welfare Australia health 2010. The twelfth biennial health report of the Australia health and welfare. Canberra, Australia government. Barraclough, S., & Gerdner, H. (eds.), 2008. Analysing health policy: a problem-oriented approach, Sydney, Churchill Livingstone Elsevier. Dimitrakaki, C & Tountas, Y., 2006. Health education for youth. Pediatry endocrinol review, vol 10 (1), 2-20. Funnell, R., Koutoukidis, G., & Lawrence, K., 2008. Tabbner's Nursing Care: Theory and Practice, Sydney, Elsevier Australia. Koutoukidis, G., Stainton, K., & Hughson, J., 2012. Tabbner's Nursing Care: Theory and Practice, Sydney, Elsevier Australia. Smith, A. et al., 2008. Secondary students and sexual health 2008. Accessed on 20th march, 2013 from: http://www.latrobe.edu.au/arcshs/downloads/arcshs-research- publications/secondary-students-and-sexual-health-2008.pdf. Taylor, S., Foster, M., & & Fleming, J. (eds.), 2008. Healthcare practice in Australia: policy, Context and Innovations, South Melbourne: Oxford University Press. Willis, R, Reynolds, L, & Keleher, H., 2009. Understanding the Australian healthcare system, Sydney, Churchill Livingstone. Read More