Weatherill rallies nurses against fed cuts

Planned cuts to health funding by the federal government will leave South Australians waiting longer for critical treatment, Premier Jay Weatherill has warned.

The premier addressed about 500 nurses and midwives at an Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) conference in Adelaide on Wednesday.

He said the federal government's decision not to proceed with health funding agreements with the states will strip $655 million from South Australian hospitals over the next four years.

"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," he said.

"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."

Mr Weatherill is expected to discuss health funding cuts with Australian Medical Association president Brian Owler when the pair meet in Adelaide on Thursday.