The AMA's 2025 Public hospital report card highlights the urgent need for reform.
AMA President Dr Danielle McMullen will launch the 2025 Public hospital report card alongside AMA NSW President Dr Kathryn Austin in Sydney today.
The latest iteration of the Public hospital report card shows there is a long road ahead to restore Australia's public hospital system, as emergency department (ED) and planned surgery waiting times remain at some of the worst levels on record.
While the report card shows some modest improvements over the past year, performance remains markedly worse than five years ago.
"We are glad to see some good news in this report card, however, there is no escaping the reality that Australia's public hospitals remain critically logjammed," Dr McMullen said in a media statement ahead of the launch.
AMA NSW President Dr Kathryn Austin said the data presented in the report card would come as no surprise to staff in NSW public hospitals, with doctors being asked to do more with less.
"We have an exhausted workforce operating on budgets and staffing levels from seven years ago," Dr Austin said.
Ahead of the federal election, the AMA is calling on all political parties to commit to improving Australia's public hospital system.
"While recent investment from the federal government and action to address issues in some states and territories is welcome; the delay to a new National Health Reform Agreement was disappointing," Dr McMullen said.
"The need for a new fit-for-purpose agreement has never been greater - for both doctors and their patients."
