Residents of Tasmania’s north-west need more certainty about where their public hospital services will be delivered, the Health Minister has conceded.
Michael Ferguson addressed more than 250 people in Devonport last night about the State Government’s draft white paper on health reform.
Premier Will Hodgman attended the forum.
Many in the crowd were angry about a perceived downgrade of the Mersey Hospital’s emergency department and the possible loss of maternity services, which will be consolidated in either Latrobe or Burnie.
In relation to the Mersey campus, Mr Ferguson said, “We are not downgrading this hospital.”
He said the Mersey’s future would be shored up by a plan to establish a dedicated day surgery centre, which patients would travel to from around the state.
The head of emergency medicine at the North-West Regional Hospital Marielle Ruigrok told the forum the Mersey would keep its 24-hour emergency department but there would be some changes to services.
“When you’re really sick I want you to be in a hospital that can really look after you,” she said.
‘Save the jeers for me’
Mr Ferguson had to step in when the crowd heckled Dr Ruigrok, asking the crowd to, “save the jeers for me.”
A maternity specialist said safety concerns associated with small birthing units were behind a decision to consolidate services at one hospital.
She added that it was harder to recruit doctors to smaller units.
Devonport Alderman Justine Keay asked the Minister to stop giving false hope to people who wanted maternity services kept at Latrobe.
“You’ve just challenged me to get on and make a decision and I think that’s fair,” Mr Ferguson said.
He urged the crowd to read the draft white paper more carefully, after a show of hands revealed only about a quarter had a copy of the document.
Final decisions on changes to the health system will be announced in June.