The Australian Medical Association (AMA) has criticised the Tasmanian Government’s allocation of another $4 million for a new hospital on the east coast.
The budget money for the hospital at St Helens has been released before details about the Government’s health shakeup are finalised.
Break O’Day Mayor Mick Tucker said the current St Helens hospital was more than 40 years old.
“It’s getting quite outdated and it’s been prone to flooding,” he said.
“We’ve had a lot of issues with it, it’s past its used by date.”
A new hospital has now moved a step closer.
Last year’s budget allocated $3 million for a new facility and a further $4 million was earmarked last week.
AMA’s Dr Tim Greenaway said the project did not seem to fit with the aims of the State Government’s health white paper, expected to be released by the end of June.
He has called for more details.
“We need to make sure that any decisions that are taken are in the best interests of Tasmania, the best interests of the Tasmanian population and not just based on political expediency,” he said.
“The concern would be that political decisions are being taken that are not based on sound judgement.”
The Chamber of Commerce’s Peter Paulsen said a new hospital would cope with a growing population.
“One of the things, apart from emergency care, but chronic and complex care is one of the things with an ageing population we’re finding there’s greater need,” he said.
The latest round of funding will ensure planning will now go into full swing.
The State Government said the recommendations of the white paper will be incorporated into plans for the new hospital.
Another $5 million is needed for the project to go ahead.
It is expected to be built by 2020.