Des Hardman - Lettter to the Editor 16 Dec 2015 Tweet Every day I see patients in my workplace who use Logan Hospital MRI services because they cannot afford to pay out of pocket fees. Some specialist doctors send their patients to us specifically because we are a bulk billing service. The incentives for MRI and pathology services to bulk bill their patients were put in place to encourage early detection of illness and injury. The changes announced this week by Treasurer Scott Morrison will mean that private imaging and pathology services will pass on their increased costs to patients – essentially a co-payment by stealth. I helped an elderly patient the other day who had lived with severe pain while waiting more than two years to be seen as a public patient, because paying for specialist health care was something she simply could not afford. The waiting periods for public health services will only get longer as Malcolm Turnbull and Scott Morrison’s cuts to health will increase the demand on public health services and wait times for people in need of necessary medical care. Local member Bert van Manen needs to stand up for people in Forde and vote against these cruel health cuts. Regards Des Hardman Labor Candidate Forde 0412 818 854 Tweet