Jeremy Rockliff,Deputy Premier and Minister for Health
I consider it a privilege to be the Minister for Health and I am looking forward to getting to work straight away to deliver the plan we laid out during the election, to ensure Tasmanians get the care they need, when and where they need it.
The Tasmanian Liberal Government considers health a priority which is why we have increased the health budget by 70 per cent since 2014 and we are investing $9.8 billion in health over the next four years.
This is unprecedented resourcing that is delivering record staffing levels, opening beds, and investing in the facilities our patients and staff deserve.
However there are ongoing challenges with demand continuing to increase, putting pressure on health services and staff. This means we must do more.
Our plan to deliver even better healthcare for Tasmanians, starts with priorities outlined in our first 100 day Plan.
This week I will be meeting with representatives from the State's private hospitals to progress our major $20 million commitment to deliver care sooner for Tasmanians by ensuring our private hospitals are better able to support our public hospitals to manage demand. I firmly believe that we can get better results for patients by working together.
Within the first 30 days we will also:
- Commence recruitment for the additional health staff needed for our elective surgery blitz, which will deliver an additional 22,300 elective surgeries and endoscopies. This means more Tasmanians will receive the surgery they need within clinically recommended timeframes.
- Convene the new Health Staff Recruitment Taskforce with professional organisations including the AMNF, AMA and UTAS to look at how we improve recruitment across our health system. We must also look at how to better retain staff and reduce a reliance on locums.
- Commence planning and consultation for the expanded redevelopment at the Mersey Community Hospital – the most significant in the hospital's history - which includes a new kitchen, new ward and more bed capacity.
- Finalise a Memorandum of Understanding with Calvary Health Care to deliver on our commitment to fast-track the new co-located private hospital for Launceston.
- Commence work with the Volunteer Ambulance Officers Association on a Memorandum of Understanding to work together on attracting, retaining, training and supporting our ambulance volunteers.
- Start negotiations on a strategic partnership with the Royal Flying Doctor Service for a long term contract of up to ten years.
I will work hard to progress the Tasmanian Liberal Government's Plan to deliver better health care for all Tasmanians. My focus will be on ensuring care is received when it is needed – in a timely manner, and in the right environment - which for people who don't require surgery is often in community care, or a home setting. I also want to ensure our health system is a preferred workplace with a culture that values and supports all staff.
