Mr Rudd’s announcement yesterday that he planned to

completely take control of health and hospital funding away from the states was billed as “ending the blame game”.

However, the move comes nine months after Mr Rudd’s own deadline, announced during the 2007 election.

Under the plan, health and hospitals would be “federally funded, run locally” introducing district boards that would be controlled by clinicians and receive direct funding from the Federal Government.

The reforms would give more power to local clinicians but not all are convinced the idea will succeed.

Gundagai doctor Paul Mara has been battling for more regional doctors and nurses for years and wants to see results before jumping on the bandwagon.

“If they fix the workforce and put some new hospitals on the ground then maybe I’ll take the reform seriously,” he said.

“Until then, I don’t necessarily think the Federal Government will be any better than the states ... the most important thing either party can do is ensure adequate doctors and nurses are employed in the bush.”

Meanwhile, CEO of the Riverina Division of General Practice Nancye Piercy said the reform was a step in the right direction.

“Reintroducing the district boards and giving local clinicians more say is what the community wanted and has great potential,” she said.

“Primary health care needs to be strengthened and the Wagga Base Hospital redevelopment is not going to happen overnight but I’m very positive.”

Mrs Piercy said the provision of primary care should ensure people were kept out of hospital and when acute care was needed, patients were “transferred” rather than “discharged” to allow for more personal care.

The idea has already met with opposition from the states, which stand to lose one-third of GST funding.

Mr Rudd said the Government would take the reform to the election if blocked by the states and bring a referendum to ensure health funding became a federal responsibility.