As Health Stakeholder Forum Report Tabled

The Tasmanian Greens today tabled in the State Parliament a Report summarising the discussions of their recently held Health Stakeholders forum, which had been attended by a range of participants including union representatives, health economists, the AMA, and other health service providers.

Greens Health spokesperson Paul O’Halloran MP said that there was overwhelming support from the Forum for a restructured health system, particularly based on a single-funder model.

“Whenever there is a crisis in the state health system, a loud call goes up that the Federal government should either ‘take-over’, or do more to assist in a sustainable funding model. The Greens decided we needed to test the merits of further Federal involvement, and hence we undertook to host this forum of key Health stakeholders to kick-start that discussion,” Mr O’Halloran said.

“There was a strong collective view from those around the table, in favour of a single-funder model for the State’s health system, along with acknowledgement of the challenges such a transition would bring.”

“Serious proposals emerged from the forum including the establishment of a health care sector roundtable, and the suggestion that Tasmania promotes itself to the Commonwealth as a possible Pilot Program for single funder health care.”

“These proposals deserve serious consideration by all elected representatives at both a State and Federal level. We need to face up to the fact that the current funding model is not sustainable into the future. It has let us down in the past, is letting us down today, and can only still let us down in the future.”

“I had undertaken to produce a summary of the Forum’s proceedings to facilitate ongoing public debate around how to best restructure the health system to break the crippling boom-bust cycle that had plagued it for decades, and to make available expert contributions to help inform the development of good public policy.”

“I thank all forum participants, and those who could not attend but provided presentations for inclusion in the day’s discussions, for their contributions. Hopefully this debate will continue constructively.”

Greens Leader Nick McKim had formally opened the Stakeholder Forum on behalf of host Paul O’Halloran MP. The Greens had also commissioned a professional facilitator to oversee the day’s proceedings.

Key findings of the Forum include:

 There was unanimous agreement amongst participants that a single funder model was a necessary and imperative step forward in resolving health care issues across Tasmania.
 Tasmania was agreed as being in an advantageous position to promote itself as a Pilot Program for single funder health care
 It was proposed that a health care sector roundtable would need to be established to create such a proposal and to lobby for its implementation
 It was agreed that promoting Tasmania as the best option for a Pilot Program would be achieved by key stakeholders developing a clear model for implementation and presenting a unified plan to the Federal Government
 Numerous health reforms would be enabled by a single funder and many efficiencies would be gained
 The concept of three separate health networks in Tasmania was also identified as a pertinent issue that sat outside discussions about a single funder model
 General agreement was that there should only be one health network in Tasmania but concern that a single health network needed to be effective, responsive and appropriately equipped to address problems in health care services in Tasmania
 Other pertinent issues were identified that sat outside the discussion of a single funder model, such as end of life issues, childhood obesity and public education
Hosting the Health Stakeholders Forum is part of the Greens’ focus on working towards constructive options in light of the budget challenges facing the sector. These include:
 Hosted a Health Stakeholders Forum – 18 November 2011
 Successful had a motion passed in the Lower House to establish a Parliamentary Committee on Preventative Health
 Advocated at both State and Federal level for the Mersey Hospital’s elective surgery capacity to be boosted to help with the state’s waiting lists
 Conducted tours of the three regional hospitals to talk with those at the coal-face regarding the impacts of the health cost savings regime

Attached: A Sustainable Tasmanian Health System: Where Do the Feds Fit In? Summary Report of the Greens’ hosted Health Stakeholders Forum, November 2011.

TT was unable to upload the report: It will no doubt be available on the Greens website: http://mps.tas.greens.org.au/media/
Paul O’Halloran MP Greens Health spokesperson