The Liberals’ Smarter Health Care package will enable people of Northern Tasmania to better access health care from the hospital to the home when they need it, by taking the pressure off the Launceston General Hospital (LGH) and freeing up hospital beds to allow Tasmanians to get their surgery on time.

Most importantly, the package will help the LGH address its unsafe occupancy levels and meet current and future health demand associated with an ageing population.

The Hodgman Liberal Government’s Smarter Health care for the north will –

These initiatives, combined with the Liberal policy to spend $10m in two years to drastically cut elective surgery waiting lists through a strategic public-private partnership in our Sooner the Better policy, will ensure better health results all round for people in Northern Tasmania.

Sooner the Better allows for patients waiting longer than clinically-recommended timeframes to have their operation in a private hospital at no cost to them, leading to a better quality of life sooner.

Why is this policy needed

For too long, Tasmania’s health system has balanced on a knife-edge and Tasmanians have been the ones to suffer.

Our health system is like a set of scales –if there are inadequate health services in the community, this adds pressure to the hospital system, and in turn leads to worsening health outcomes as people are denied a hospital bed or surgery.

We need to tip the balance in favour of keeping people well and out of hospital and use the health dollar better by investing in smarter ways to deliver health care from the hospital to the home.

The benefits of the Liberals’ Smarter Health approach are –

A new 28-bed transitional care facility

In 2008 the Liberals revealed a secret Government report “Rehabilitation Services in Tasmania: Current Situation and Future Plans” that showed the north of the State had just 16-18 rehabilitation beds and that before 2016, another 150 additional inpatient rehabilitation beds were needed Statewide.

While the LGH’s Rehabilitation Ward has now increased to 26 beds, this is still a long way short of the rehabilitation beds and additional step-down or sub-acute beds needed by the Northern Tasmanian community into the future.

A Hodgman Liberal Government will refurbish the John L. Grove Centre – situated close to the LGH – to create a new 28-bed transitional care facility. For greater flexibility in the delivery of health care, these beds will be multipurpose, for slow-stream rehabilitation, geriatric evaluation and provide step-down care for those waiting for permanent residential care. The 26-bed rehabilitation ward will also remain at the LGH. This initiative will provide patients with a range of care options depending on their need, and a pathway from the hospital to the home, or nursing home.

Current tenants of the John L. Grove Centre will need to be re-housed and we will consult with them in an attempt to keep them within the hospital precinct. Funding has been provided for leasing.

The new 28 bed transitional unit will facilitate more timely discharge of rehabilitation, stroke and acute patients from the LGH, address increasing demand for rehabilitation services, and improve access to services in the north. The benefits are that it will deliver a decrease in the average length of stay at the hospital, and will free up more beds for acute care.

Dedicated Palliative Care

A Hodgman Liberal Government will provide four dedicated palliative care beds for public patients in the north of the State, more than doubling the number available in the region. The beds will be negotiated within 30 days of election and provided by the private hospital system, extending the current contract with Calvary Health Care at its St Luke’s campus.

Six years after a 2004 report recommended dedicated palliative beds located in, and spread between existing acute and rural hospitals, beds remain at the same inadequate levels. There are just three publicly-funded dedicated palliative care beds for the north of the State and since the private hospital contract began, these beds have been 96 per cent occupied.

The Tasmanian Liberals strongly support the right of the terminally ill and their families to have choice in accessing quality palliative care in a range of settings from the home to the hospital.

Hospital in the Home

‘Hospital in the Home’ has been proven to work successfully in other Australian States where it is well established, as an efficient alternative to hospital care for frequent hospital users and those needing continuity of care post-discharge, including those with chronic disease, and adults, infants and children with complex and ongoing care needs.

‘Hospital in the Home’ is overwhelmingly valued by patients and carers because it allows increased mobility for patients, more time with family and less disruption of family life, reduced transport needs and time waiting for hospital care, and importantly an infection-free environment.

Many patients in other States who had previously experienced lengthy in-hospital admissions say if presented with a choice, they prefer Hospital in the Home over having to stay in hospital.

A Hodgman Liberal Government will significantly boost ‘Hospital in the Home’ services in Launceston, for patients and families who would like this option. We will provide funding for staffing, and support needs (IT, infrastructure and communication).

This initiative has the potential to further free up hospital beds.

Establish Tasmania’s first walk-in care clinic in the north

A Hodgman Liberal Government will establish Tasmania’s first walk-in care clinic after consultation with hospital management, local GPs, the AMA and the ANF.

The Walk-in Care Clinic will be staffed by three funded nurse practitioner positions. The clinic will allow for extended hours week-day access for simple treatments and minor health problems. Minor health problems could include coughs and cold, sprains, cuts, minor wounds, soft tissue injuries, ear infections, urinary tract infections etc. for people of all ages. There will be no need for an appointment.

The service could also provide health screening tests, physical examinations, injections, immunisations and health education and promotion.

A Walk-in Care Clinic which will have the benefit of relieving pressure on the LGH’s Emergency Department for minor health matters, and ensure faster access to simple medical treatments for Northern Tasmanians.

Eight new nurse practitioner positions for the North

The Tasmanian Liberals support the position of nurse practitioners, who are expert nurses with many years of tertiary study including a post-graduate clinical masters degree. They do not replace the work of doctors and practice within a carefully regulated framework. There are now more than 305 nurse practitioners successfully practising nationally, however there are none practising in Tasmania.

A Hodgman Liberal Government believes nurse practitioners can assist in improving access for all Tasmanians to a range of health care services in various locations of the State, and will fund eight of these new positions for Northern Tasmania.

There are currently 26 nurses with the appropriate masters qualifications waiting for recognition in their new role but there are no funded positions for employment opportunities. We will use their services to deliver a range of health care solutions from the hospital to the home.

Establish a Rapid Response GP Unit and Development Fund

The Liberals understand Tasmanians are entitled to health care when and where they need it.

A Hodgman Liberal Government will fund a $500,000 per annum “Rapid Response GP and Development Fund” (RRDF) in the north of the State to ensure no Tasmanian is left without primary health care in the event of unexpected GP shortages. Lack of access to primary health care puts additional pressure on hospitals and can compromise the health of Tasmanians.

The RRDF will be managed by GP North and GP Workforce in the north of the State, and will have the ability to act swiftly to respond to community needs, with a team comprising a GP, practice nurse and practice manager, to ensure patients have continuity of care in urban and regional communities in the north of the State.

From the Fund the Liberals would purchase three dedicated registrar positions from General Practice Training Tasmania (GPTT) each year – over and above the 21 positions the Commonwealth allocates. The positions will be full-time and GPTT will be directed to place those registrars in areas of workforce shortage as identified in the Workforce Plan, including Launceston. Also, GPs in the north will have the benefit of additional incentive payments for taking on trainee GPs (on top of that provided by the Commonwealth). We would also provide incentives to GPs, to support aged care residents.

Fully fund the positions of doctors, nurses and allied health staff required to meet the construction of the expanded Department of Emergency Medicine, Acute Medical Unit, Day Procedure Unit and expanded ICU/HDU at the Launceston General Hospital.

A Hodgman Liberal Government acknowledges the need for additional staff to meet the needs of facilities under construction at the LGH. This capital works program, largely funded by the Australian Government, will assist the hospital meet health demand into the future, but must be fully staffed.

Attempts by the Liberals over a six month period to obtain the Business Case from the LGH to assist with accurate policy development for this commitment have failed. Therefore, the Liberals cannot accurately cost this part of the Smarter Health package but in acknowledging the need for additional staffing as part of those capital developments, we will match the Government’s commitment in this area.

After more than 11 years of Labor…

Costings

The total cost of this policy is $155.4 million. This includes $25.4 million for Smarter Health initative funding, and $130 million for additional staff at the Launceston General Hospital.

A Hodgman Liberal Government will provide $11.5 million to the Launceston Flood Authority for urgent and essential works to complete the works on the Lindsay Street Levee re-alignment.

This work, which is well underway, is essential to protect the suburbs of Invermay and Inveresk, and the homes and businesses of around 3,000 people which will be affected if the levees are breached as the result of a significant flood event.

The Launceston City Council has advised that, if the levees are breached, the homes of 1,500 people would be flooded. In addition, a further group of 1,500 would be forced to evacuate because of the loss of water, sewerage and power services.

Apart from the significant loss to private property and public infrastructure, including schools, roads and the Inveresk campus of the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, this level of flood would bring with it major public health consequences, including the potential for disease.

The major flood of 1929 recorded what will happen in such a catastrophic flood.

The Launceston City Council has made a strong case for assistance from both the federal and state governments in the amount of $23 million. The Tasmanian Liberals commit to providing dollar-for-dollar funding, in partnership with the Australian Government.

This is essential work that must take place in the next two years to complete the levee works in Lindsay Street.

We would provide $11.5 million spread across financial years 2010-11 and 2011-12 to complete these important remedial works.

Video highlighting the issue in 2009 on the anniversary of the great flood of 1929

Invest $9.5 million in the economic and environmental future of Northern Tasmania by tackling the major and continuing silt problem in the Tamar River and establishing a single state authority to manage Tamar River and the Esk River catchments into the future.

A Hodgman Liberal Government will invest $7.4 million over three years to conduct a major dredging program consistent with Option 3 in the GHD Sedimentation Study Report recently provided to the Launceston City Council.

In addition, a Hodgman Liberal Government will establish at a cost of $700,000 per annum a Tamar and Esk Rivers Management Authority, to manage the silt problem in the longer term.

The authority would have a five member board, selected to ensure an appropriate mix of estuarine, marine, environmental and economic experience and knowledge.

To ensure local government involvement, the Authority would have an advisory group comprising of a nominee from each of the bordering local government councils: Dorset, George Town, Launceston, Northern Midlands, Meander Valley and West Tamar.

NRM North would also be involved as a member of the advisory group, given their ongoing work on catchment management.

Why this policy is needed
The appalling silt built up in the River Tamar is testament to a lack of action by the State Government and an embarrassment to all Tasmanians. Worse, it is a serious threat to many residents of Launceston in the event of a major flood.

It needs not only a significant capital injection, but also the will to act. A Hodgman Liberal Government will provide both.

The Legislative Council Select Committee into the Management of the Tamar Estuary and Esk Rivers found:

The imprecision and inadequacies of the current management structure have contributed to the parlous state of the Tamar Estuary and Esk River systems, especially the significant and environmentally damaging siltation problem and the defectiveness of flood mitigation infrastructure in Launceston.

Rapid action does need to be taken to address urgent environmental and waterway management challenges.

We now have a number of valuable studies that have been done on the Tamar Estuary, and the catchment area. The time has come for action.

What we will do

This policy offers real change to improve the management of the Tamar for today and the longer term.

After more than 11 years of Labor…
The ongoing, serious issue of silt in the Tamar River has been neglected over the past 11 years and it remains a serious problem.

Unlike Labor, the State Liberals are committed to fixing this and other associated problems for the Tamar and Esk Rivers and, if elected, a Hodgman Liberal Government will establish a single statutory Authority as a starting point to achieving this goal.

We recognise that the accumulation of silt in the Tamar River is occurring at an unacceptable level which is inhibiting recreation, tourism and other opportunities that the Tamar River represents to the wider region. The silt problem will, if not addressed, also affect local jobs.

Sadly, the upper reaches of the Tamar River, the gateway to Launceston, is barely navigable at times. There is also the potential that such high levels of silt may contribute to a higher risk of flooding.

Even before the tragically high number of deaths last year we still had the highest per capita fatality rate of any state. Only the Northern Territory had a worse record.

In 2009 the Northern Territory took action. It reduced speed limits, increased demerit points, doubled fines and got dedicated traffic police on the roads. The result last year was the Territory’s lowest toll for 30 years – a reduction from 74 in 2008 to 30 in 2009.

Through a similar range of measures the Victorian Government last year oversaw its lowest road toll since records began in 1952.

Here in Tasmania the Bartlett government did nothing to seriously tackle the problem and we saw our road toll rise from 40 in 2008 to 64 deaths in 2009.

Even that shocking rise was not enough to make Labor wake up and take action.

When asked about the disastrous road toll Police Minister Jim Cox said he’s “never seen a road kill anyone”. Perhaps that attitude is also the reason why Infrastructure Minister Graeme “goat track” Sturges keeps inventing reasons why the Midland Highway shouldn’t be upgraded to four lanes ?

Ref: Article in The Mercury

Labor not only has the wrong attitude to road safety, its ministers seem utterly incapable of initiating measures to save lives.

Throughout the past year I’ve highlighted new ideas and policies that can help reduce Tasmania’s road toll. I’ve spoken about driver training and education, tackling hoons, increasing penalties, improving our roads, and, for young people, linking behaviour at school to the ability to obtain a learner’s permit.

Videos and articles on road safety on my website here.

Under a Hodgman Liberal Government road safety will be a priority. A whole suite of initiatives are ready to be implemented to make our roads safer and start saving lives. These include:

Speed Camera Revenue

The Tasmanian Liberals understand that there is a general principle not to hypothecate revenue received from fines, but do not accept that principle in regard to fines paid for proven speed camera offences. Given that speed is such a large contributor to car crashes which cause death and injury, we believe the revenue from speed cameras should be quarantined to be used for road safety measures, including public education and physical infrastructure.

Driver Education

The Tasmanian Liberals believe that any person who has had his or her driver licence suspended or who has been disqualified from driving because of an accumulation of
offences or a particular offence, should be required to undertake a short course which relates to driver behaviour.

In Government, advice would be sought from other jurisdictions which have had success with this initiative in improving driver behaviour.

Driver Training

The Tasmanian Liberals believe that, as well as sanctions to deal with driving offences, a responsible State Government would support incentives to encourage novice drivers to undertake professional training in defensive driving.

One incentive would be a rebate on the fee for a full driver licence upon providing proof of successful completion of a course which has been accredited by the State Government.

Safe Drivers

Consistent with our dual ‘incentive and sanction’ approach, the Tasmanian Liberals believe that there should be a rebate on driver licence renewal fees for drivers who can prove they have no driving convictions for the previous five years in any Australian jurisdiction, and who are not facing any unheard charges.

Black Spots

Permanent speed cameras should be installed at black spot sites which have been proven by police statistics to be common sites of crashes. The Tasmanian Liberals recognise that there is a cost for such equipment, so therefore the cameras would be rolled out over a period of time. In the interim, all recognized black spot sites in Tasmania should be sign-posted to alert road users.

Double demerits

The Tasmanian Liberals believe that it is time for Tasmania to join other Australian States in adopting a Double Demerit Point system for public holidays, including:

* On long weekends – when either a Monday or a Friday is a public holiday;
* Christmas – from 23 December until 2 January; and
* Easter – from midday on the day before Good Friday until midnight on Easter Tuesday.

Offences which would be covered include:

* Speeding;
* Not wearing a seat belt;
* Not wearing a motorcycle helmet; and
* Riding in the back of utilities, trucks, etc.

The Tasmanian Liberals believe that all measures to decrease speeding and dangerous driving during holiday periods and long weekends must be considered, and they should be adopted if they have proven successful elsewhere.

Experience in NSW and WA, which have both had Double Demerit systems for a number of years, has shown that fatal crashes and crashes overall decrease during Double Demerit point periods.

The Double Demerit point period would be advertised widely in the three Tasmanian daily newspapers on the day preceding the period, and on television and radio. As this Double Demerit initiative is centred on road safety, fine penalties would remain the same during the periods, and after three years, the Double Demerit point system would be reviewed by the Road Safety Council or other properly qualified people to assess its effectiveness.

Highway Patrol vehicles

Our Commitment – We will:

* Convert 12 vehicles to high visibility markings for Highway Patrol use in the first year of a Hodgman Liberal Government – i.e. 3 per Traffic Division. Remaining Traffic Division cars will be upgraded in the following year.
* Upgrade all other operational police vehicles to ‘suburban high visibility’ markings progressively over a five year period, as vehicles are replaced.

The Need

In the ongoing battle between Police versus Bad Drivers, the drivers are clearly winning.

They have little fear of detection and behave accordingly.

We need a ‘muscled up’ approach to highway policing that clearly serves notice that Tasmania Police – supported by the Government – are determined to win this battle.

Just over 70% of the operational Tasmania Police fleet are fitted with police lights and/or markings.

However, current vehicle markings vehicle colour does not sufficiently distinguish them from other special use Vehicles used by such agencies as Customs, Transport Inspectors, the State Emergency Service and private security firms.

In addition, police vehicles are not easily recognisable from a reasonable distance or in poor light.

This low level of visibility increases the potential for accidents, and has consequences both for officers and the travelling public.

Four-lane Midland Highway

The Midland Highway and Bass Highway form part of the National Highway Network and are the major freight and passenger route in Tasmania. Between 2001 and 2005 almost 40% of all Tasmanian crashes occurred on the National Highway (Bass and Midland Highways). Over the past 5 years, the Tasmanian Corridor Strategy has found that Tasmanian container freight has grown by 10.5% a year, but even with a more conservative 6% a year growth, Tasmania would experience a doubling of container freight in 10 years (by 2017).

Whilst population growth is not great, Tasmanians are moving from the centre of towns to urban fringes. The Strategy finds that there will be increased passenger travel. Passenger travel for education and services will also increase. Patient transport and travel by University of Tasmania staff and students are prime examples. General Freight transport by road is expected to double over the next 20-25 years. Tasmania will continue to have the highest level of car ownership per capita of any State.

Between 2005 and 2030, freight movements are forecast to increase by 70% and passenger movements by 40%. Freight carried by rail is forecast to increase by over 120% over the same period. Historically, the Port of Hobart was the main trading port for Southern Tasmania.

The Tasmanian Corridor Strategy has found that over the last 20 years, the Hobart port’s throughput has significantly declined, while the freight task between Southern Tasmania and the northern ports has continued to increase with more than 30% of containers leaving our northern ports originating from the south.

State and Federal governments have recognised this trend with the progressive upgrade to dual carriageway of the Bass Highway between Devonport and Burnie (now completed).

Since the Tasmanian Liberals committed to a long-term four-lane Midland Highway plan, Labor has made many incorrect and deliberately misleading claims about the project, effectively seeking to sabotage efforts to attract federal funds for this project and sending a message that Tasmanians don’t deserve quality infrastructure.

Drive our Economy Forward
Backing Business to Invest in Renewable Energy
Four-Lane Midland Highway
Getting Better Returns from Government Businesses
Making Tasmania a Magnet
Protecting and Creating Jobs in our Tourism Industry
Statewide Residential Planning Code
Tasmania’s World Class Tarkine – Growing our Tourism Potential
Fixing Tasmania’s Critical Infrastructure
Farming for the Future
Urgent repairs to the Midland Highway
Building Better Regional Roads
Abolishing Land Tax
Putting Tasmanian Products on the World Stage
Deliver Accountable Government
A New Culture of Accountability and Transparency
Fixed Terms
Greater Budget Honesty
Achieve Better Health Results
Smarter Health Care for the North
A New Generation Royal Hobart Hospital
At-Risk Children
Better Quality of Life for Tasmanians with Disabilities
A Fairer Tasmania
The Sooner the Better: No more Endless Waiting Lists
Upgrading the Mersey
Equity for North-West Cancer Patients
Exciting new health services for Tasmanians with the Royal Flying Doctors
More step down beds for the Huon
Raise Education Standards
Free Bus Travel for Students
Pathway Planning
Supporting students with Autism
A better deal for Teacher Aides and Support Staff
Better retention and results – ending the experimentation with our education system
Protect our lifestyle & strengthen our community
Continuing to make our Roads Safer
Double Demerits
Forest Protests
Linking Responsibility – At School and on the Road
Mandatory Employment Screening For All People Working with Children
Parole Board
Police Highway Traffic Patrols and High Visibility Police Vehicles
Police Workers Compensation
Road Safety Authority
Sentencing Advisory Council
Sex Offender Programs
Tougher Sentences for Sex Crimes
Vehicle Impoundment Program
Saving lives – providing specialist smoke alarms
Light Rail in Hobart

Fixing Labor’s Water and Sewerage Debacle
Using social media to reduce street violence
Supporting our Surf Life Savers
Strengthening Penalties for Arson
A Plastic Shopping Bag Free Tasmania
A New ‘Chance’ for young people in Glenorchy
Lights for King George V Oval, Glenorchy
Tackling Tamar Silt
Protecting Launceston from Flood
Devonport Aquatic Centre
Recognising and supporting grandparent carers