The Rockliff Liberal Government is taking action to further improve patient safety across its hospitals and health services, including with a new agreement with Australia's national health regulator.
The Tasmanian Government and Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to support sharing of information relating to sexual misconduct by health practitioners between the two organisations.
Under the MoU, Ahpra and the Department of Health will share information regarding alleged boundary violations by Department employees as soon as possible and as allowed by law, enabling early action to protect Tasmanians.
A first in Australia, the MoU strengthens existing arrangements and supports legal requirements around the sharing of information between the Department and Ahpra.
The MoU is another critical step to strengthening safeguarding frameworks across Tasmania's hospitals and health services, closely aligning with the recommendations of the Child Safe Governance Review of the Launceston General Hospital and Human Resources, which the Tasmanian Government has committed to implementing in full.
Minister for Health Guy Barnett said the Government was implementing the changes necessary to further ensure the safety of patients in Tasmania's hospitals and health services.
"The safety and wellbeing of our patients is vital, which is why we are getting on with progressing the critical changes that will put safeguarding at the centre of every patient's care," Minister Barnett said.
"This nation-leading agreement between the Department of Health and Ahpra to proactively share information relating to health practitioner sexual misconduct is an important milestone that will help to ensure the safety of all patients across our health services, in particular our most vulnerable such as children and young people.
"I would like to thank Ahpra for their commitment to working with us to progress this important agreement."
