MEDIA RELEASE Thursday 22 May 2008
BEST CHANCE YET TO FIX OUR HOSPITALS The State Government’s revised Clinical Services Plan presents a ‘best of both worlds’ opportunity to secure sustainable hospital services for the Mersey community and the Cradle Coast region. It confirms the State Government would support a High Dependency Unit at the Mersey as well as the day surgery, dialysis, chemotherapy, aged care and other services proposed in its original plan. This accords with the findings of a recent report into critical care services at the Mersey, commissioned by the Federal Minister, and represents a significant shift in the State’s position. Importantly, the new plan says the State Government would be prepared to resume responsibility for the Mersey if another operator was unable to deliver services of an acceptable range and quality. The Commonwealth is seeking a third party operator for the Mersey but has not confirmed the range of services that will be offered and is unlikely to do so until the tender process concludes. Depending on the outcome of this process, the State’s plan may need to be revised again, and hospital service arrangements across northern Tasmania adjusted accordingly. If the State’s new plan is based on sound health planning principles and statewide assessments of need, its fate should not be determined by the outcome of confidential negotiations at one hospital. If the Commonwealth really wants to improve health services in the North West, it should partner with the State to fast-track implementation of the revised regional plan so its benefits are seen in 4 years instead of 8, not just commit to funding the operation of the Mersey for the next 3 years. This would mean • The State could resume operation of the Mersey, integrating services and resources with other parts of the State-run health system more easily, and at lower cost, than a private operator • The federal funds would be spent in the region, on the transport, accommodation, IT and other systems needed to support better health services, rather than normal hospital running costs • The Federal Government could retain ownership of the Mersey, and secure its future role in a stronger regional health system, and so meet its election commitments to the Mersey community Together, the State’s new plan and the Commonwealth’s funding commitments provide a better opportunity to fix health services in our region than anything previously offered by either government, before, during or since the last election. This opportunity must not be lost.
Contact
Roger Jaensch
6431 6285, 0438 316 285