In the Wake of the Garling Report

In the latest issue of the Medical Journal of Australia, a number of articles look at health reform in NSW in relation to the Garling Report. Martin B Van Der Weyden takes a humourous twist to the serious problem of redressing the imbalance between community expectations and the capacity of the hospital system to meet those expectations. A second article in this issue, "Reforming New South Wales public hospitals: an assessment of the Garling inquiry" states the real challenge is effective implementation. This will require "courage and political will (not evident in recent years); outstanding political, clinical and community leadership; open discussion; and community engagement to an extent not previously seen". Also in the issue, Stewart and Dwyer discuss the implementation of the Garling Report offers real hope for rescuing the New South Wales public hospital system.