The Tasmanian Liberal Government is committed to delivering continuous and ongoing improvement across all areas of our health system to ensure Tasmanians have access to the health care they deserve.
An independent review into the operation of Emergency Departments at all four major hospitals in the state is currently underway, with the Government now undertaking work to implement a set of interim recommendations received by the Independent Panel.
The recommendations emphasise evidence-based strategies that are readily in use across hospital and health services to support discharge planning and the safe flow of patients to their next care environment which helps to reduce unnecessary presentations or length of stay in the emergency departments.
Recommendations include, but are not limited to:
Minister for Health, Guy Barnett, welcomed the interim recommendations, saying that review was about ensuring Tasmanians can access the care they need, in the right place, at the right time.
“The purpose of this review was to allow external experts to independently examine the policies, protocols, systems, and culture within our four major health facilities; to assess and make recommendations as to how to improve patient flow and the transfer of care across our hospital system,” Minister Barnett said.
“This is a key priority for me, and I am pleased to receive these interim recommendations, noting that the Department of Health has already begun work on the implementation of these initiatives.
The Interim Action Plan has been published on the Department of Health website at www.health.tas.gov.au