A FEDERAL Labor government would take hospitals off the hands of state and territory governments within two years if a national plan to improve health care was not agreed.

Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd has announced his intention to take over responsibility of Australia’s public hospitals as part of a $2 billion health package if the states and territories refuse to implement their own national plan.

“The buck will stop with me,” Mr Rudd has said. “I’m sick and tired of one level of government blaming the other.

"The Commonwealth blaming the states and vice versa doesn't help when you are sick. That's why we need a plan to fix the problem, rather than political excuses as to why the problem can't be fixed."

Mr Rudd has set a mid-2009 deadline for an agreement.

"A Labor government will provide financial incentive payments to state and territory governments who deliver better outcomes to patients using their health and hospital system," he said.

"(But) a Rudd Labor government will seek to take financial control of Australia's 750 public hospitals if state and territory governments have failed to agree to a national health and hospital reform plan by mid-2009 to eliminate the duplication and overlap which currently plagues the system."

No copycat

He has denied the plan was in response to last month's federal intervention into Tasmania's Mersey Hospital, in the marginal federal seat of Braddon.

Labor's plan had been "in gestation" for months and was not about shoring up votes in one marginal seat, Mr Rudd has said.

He has said his National Health Reform Plan would be the biggest shake-up of the public health system since Federation.

He has also said he has been consulting the Labor premiers and chief ministers on his intentions. He said they understood the need for change.

He has said referenda would be held to allow the referral of powers.

"Should the Australian people agree to a commonwealth takeover of hospital funding a model will be devised to ensure the future of state, private and community-managed hospitals.

"Under a commonwealth financing model, regional and local communities would directly participate in the management of public hospitals, but ultimate responsibility for the quality of patient care, funding responsibility would lie with Canberra."

Mr Rudd said in order to access funds, states would have to sign up to achieving specific health outcomes.

That would include reducing avoidable hospitalisations and re-admissions, reducing non-urgent accident and emergency presentations, reducing waiting times for those requiring essential hospital services and providing more appropriate non-acute care for older people.

"These payments will serve as an incentive for state and territory governments to engage in this national health and hospital reform plan," he said.

Mr Rudd said Labor would provider dedicated funds for community level non-hospital services to enhance preventative health care.

with AAP

News Limited

This is a sensitive and important issue for most Australians, what are your thoughts on the FEDERAL Labor governments plan to take hospitals off the hands of state and territory governments

is this another issue that will be put aside, or on the back burner