PREMIER Jay Weatherill is calling on nurses and midwives to back the State Government’s campaign opposing federal cuts to health funding. However, a survey of the general public commissioned by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation found 77 per cent of respondents wanted the State to cover any shortfall in order to maintain health system standards. Mr Weatherill this morning said the recent State Budget covered half the funding cuts for the next four years by ending discounts for the Emergency Services Levy, however he ruled out trying to cover the full $655 million cuts over four years. “We’ve covered half the costs but we can’t afford to cover all of them,” he said. “Unless we get some change from the Commonwealth we are confronted with some very difficult decisions.” Speaking to about 500 nurses and midwives at their annual conference at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Mr Weatherill said he was asking every South Australian to show their support by telling the Federal Government to reverse its funding decision. “Today I am asking you, as the people on the front line of health service delivery, to stand with us as we fight these cuts,” he said. “People expect taxes to be spent on health and education but instead, the Federal Government wants to create American-style pay-as you-go services. “They ripped up a signed health agreement, which will take away $655 million. “I promised to stand up to these cuts during the election campaign and the (State) Government is now delivering on that promise. “While the focus is on health and education, the ramifications of cuts of this magnitude would be felt across the community.” ANMF chief executive Adj Assoc Prof Elizabeth Dabars said the nurses’s survey showed the public wanted to maintain quality health care. “The message is loud and clear — 77 per cent of people surveyed want additional spending to maintain the standards of our health system,” she said. “They value quality health care.”