Regional areas in Tasmania fear they will be disproportionately hurt by the State Government’s shake up of the underperforming health system.
Under his draft white paper, Health Minister Michael Ferguson has proposed centralising major surgeries in Launceston and Hobart.
Mr Ferguson warned performing complex abdominal, orthopaedic and gastrointestinal surgery in Burnie in the state’s north-west is not safe.
It is proposed those procedures be centralised, which Mr Ferguson said would be good for patients.
The Minister also flagged that the federally-run Mersey Community Hospital in Latrobe would be converted into a centre for elective day surgeries only.
“Hospitals will specialise, but this is not about reduced services, it is about more and better services,” Mr Ferguson said.
Labor’s Rebecca White is concerned regional Tasmania could suffer under the plan, and has asked the Government for more detail on how it planned to transport patients who would need to travel to undergo complex surgeries in Launceston or Hobart.
“Centralising services is not something we’re particularly keen to see, as it might severely disadvantage people living in rural and regional areas,” Ms White said.
Mayor also raises patient travel concerns
Burnie Mayor Anita Dow is also concerned about the travel implications of the white paper proposals.
“I’m worried about what that might mean for patients having to leave our area and how they will be better supported to do that, not only financially but also practically as well,” she said.
Mr Ferguson responded to that concern, arguing there would be 1,000 fewer patient transports each year from the region under his plan as a result of improved cancer services in Burnie.
He also pointed out the north west was also being promised better rehabilitation, palliative and geriatric services, and drug and alcohol programs.
In Devonport, Mayor Steve Martin had mixed feelings about the proposals.
“I have concerns in regards to patient transferral; the costs that it may be with families having to go visit their relative 100 or 300 kilometres away,” he told the ABC.
“But in realistic terms in makes sense, and we’re actually going to get additional services.”
Changes overdue, doctors say
The Australian Medical Association’s Tim Greenaway said the state health changes were well overdue.
“Too often there’s been parochial politics that have played a role in destroying attempts at change,” he said.
He agreed that Mr Ferguson’s plan to consolidate very complex surgeries was a good policy and would improve patient safety.
Denison independent MP Andrew Wilkie said Mr Ferguson had made some progress on reforming the health system, but repeated his call for the closure of one of the three northern hospitals.
“Frankly I think it’s a missed opportunity on that front,” Mr Wilkie said.
Federal Liberal accepts need for centralised services
Federal Liberal Braddon MP Brett Whiteley criticised Labor’s 2007 attempt to downsize the Mersey Hospital, but so far he said he was giving Mr Ferguson’s plan the benefit of the doubt.
“Every hospital in this state cannot have every service,” he said.
“What I want to see is to make sure that services at both the Burnie and the Mersey campuses are sustainable into the future,” he said.
The Mersey Hospital is funded by the Commonwealth Government under an agreement struck in 2007 by the then health minister Tony Abbott.
That funding is set to lapse in June, and Rebecca White is suggesting Mr Ferguson’s health shake up may not have the full backing of the Prime Minister.
“Does [Michael Ferguson] have the support of his federal colleagues for these reforms? Because only a few years ago they had a very different view and were very much against these reforms,” Ms White said.
Mr Ferguson has indicated the negotiations with the Commonwealth for a new funding deal for the Mersey are nearly concluded.