Improving our health system is a priority of the Hodgman Liberal Government.
We remain committed to our single statewide health system which is delivering better health outcomes for Tasmanians – outcomes like shorter surgery waiting lists and more beds. It’s clear however that decision-making is too centralised.
We are determined to deliver better hospital management with a focus on strong, local leadership and that’s why a re-elected Hodgman Liberal Government will strengthen local hospital decision-making. It’s the medical, nursing, allied health and staff across our hospitals who know how the system can work to best benefit patients.
Our plan to strengthen local hospital decision-making will deliver better health services across Tasmania while retaining a statewide health system. Our commitment means they can get on with the job and make the day-to-day decisions necessary to support patient care.
We will consult with medical, nursing and allied health staff and representative bodies including the Australian Medical Association and Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation on the best model for local decision making with statewide planning and clinical engagement. With strong local management and statewide planning and strategic leadership, we will get rid of the duplicated, centralised management.
In the first session of Parliament after the election, a re-elected Hodgman Liberal Majority Government will introduce legislation to restructure the THS so that the THS can report directly to the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. This will result in the abolition of the Head of Agency position and the Governing Council resulting in savings of more than $4 million over the next four years, money that will be reinvested back into frontline hospital care.
We have recognised the increasing appetite for health care decisions to be made at a local level. A returned Hodgman Liberal Majority Government will ensure all local positions are in place by 1 July 2018.
For more information on this policy visit www.tas.liberal.org.au/policy
