The Hodgman Liberal Government is getting on with the job of reforming the Tasmanian Health Service to deliver improved healthcare to Tasmanians.
The Tasmanian Health Service Bill has been passed, delivering stronger local decision-making in our hospitals from July 1, reducing bureaucracy and saving taxpayers about $4 million over four years. We will reinvest that money into important frontline health services.
The Bill supports our record $757 million health investment, which will see 298 new beds in our hospitals, 802 more nurses, 158 more doctors, 128 more allied health professionals and 182 more support staff.
The Bill has been universally welcomed by clinical leaders and key health stakeholders across the state.
It creates a new Act, bringing the management of the Service under the Department of Health and repeals the Tasmanian Health Organisations Act 2011.
Importantly, the Bill provides the framework to support local decision-making in our hospitals, and supports the reform agenda set out in the One State, One Health System, Better Outcomes white paper.
As a Government, we started with 4 health agencies, which did not work well for Tasmania. In our first term, we reduced this to a single health service and the Department.
As a result of this legislation, we will have a truly unified health system all in one organisation, with an agreed hospital services plan. This means a more efficient, safer health system that focuses on the community’s needs.
Health is a key priority for the Tasmanian Government, and we have listened to the experts to deliver the best model for our state.