STRENGTHENING ACCESS TO COMMUNITY HEALTH CARE FOR ALL TASMANIANS

Jeremy Rockliff MP, Premier and Minister for Health

We recognise the need to balance acute and primary health care to ensure Tasmanians can access the care they need in the right place, at the right time. And this starts in the community.

The Our Healthcare Future reforms will build a sustainable health system by connecting and rebalancing care across acute, subacute, rehabilitation, mental health and primary health care in the community. This Budget enables implementation of these reforms with more than $4 million over four years for clinical service planning and strategic projects to deliver an integrated and sustainable health service.

The Government is already investing significantly in community and GP-led healthcare and hospital avoidance programs, and these programs are strengthened in this Budget, including $30 million over four years for the Community Rapid Response (hospital-in-the-home) Service, which is now in all regions of the State.

The Budget also allocates $17.7 million over four years for the Safe Staffing Model for Tasmanian District Hospitals, which will result in an increase in the mix of skills available to those accessing care in rural and regional areas.

Our District Hospitals play a key role in our health system and, to better support them, we’re allocating $3.8 million over four years to permanently boost staffing at district hospitals in New Norfolk, West Coast, St Helens, Swansea and Scottsdale.

Continuing our focus on improving access to care in rural and regional areas, we’re committing $12 million over four years to strengthen in-home palliative care and after-hours services to improve end of life care.

Acknowledging the strong progress we’re making when it comes to the oral health of Tasmanians, this Budget secures another year of the successful Oral Health Graduate Program with $1.5 million allocated. This funding will deliver an estimated 5,350 additional dental appointments across the State. In addition, we’ve committed $300,000 for the Royal Flying Doctor Service to enable it to extend its current oral health care program in regional Tasmania.

A child’s first 1,000 days are the most important for their development, which is why, as part of our $100 million Child and Youth Wellbeing Strategy, we’re extending the scope of the Tasmanian Child Health and Parenting Service through an additional $1.4 million over four years to better support vulnerable parents.

We’re also improving access to cutting edge treatments for children with aggressive forms of cancer, by providing $600,000 this year to enable local access to clinical trials.

Further, we’re supporting the Motor Neuron Disease Association with $290,000 over the Forward Estimates and the Muscular Dystrophy Association with $200,000 over two years. This funding will support people living with these diseases, and their families and carers.

The 2022-23 State Budget delivers for all Tasmanians by ensuring we provide the right care, in the right place, at the right time.