The Tasmanian Greens today called on the Health Minister Michelle O’Byrne MP to explain why she has not delivered on her commitment to evaluate the potential role of physician assistants in the Tasmanian health workforce.
Greens Health Spokesperson, Paul ‘Basil’ O’Halloran MP said that this week marks 12 months since the Tasmanian Greens utilised their Private Members Time to debate the potential role of physician assistants in the Tasmanian health workforce, resulting in the motion being passed with tri-partisan support.
“The Minister once again avoided giving a definitive answer to the question about whether the implementation evaluation has been undertaken or even commenced,” Mr O’Halloran said.
“I recently hosted a public meeting in Strahan which was attended by approximately 100 members of the community who are very concerned about recent health service downgrades in the area.”
“It really reinforced how critical the supply of heath care professionals is in Tasmania, and particularly so in these rural and remote areas.”
“Health Workforce Australia released a report last year supporting the introduction of physician assistants into the Tasmanian workforce, which built upon studies already conducted in South Australia and Queensland.”
“I have been informed that the Queensland Government is about to roll out a new governance framework for physician assistants in coming weeks.”
“I cannot understand what the holdup is with this study, given the critical need for health professionals across Tasmania and particularly on the west coast.”
“The Minister implied that because physician assistants are not regulated under the national health professional regulatory body as yet, that this would be an impediment to their use, however many existing health providers including paramedics and social workers are not yet covered under this relatively new registration system and it does not prevent their use, and nor should it.”
“If it’s good enough for UK, USA, New Zealand and many other countries around the world to adopt new innovative multidisciplinary health workforce models which include both physician assistants and nurse practitioners, then Tasmania can too.”
“I was encouraged by the recent announcement that the Minister had, after much pressure from the Greens, created two new positions for nurse practitioners on the west coast. This was great news but does not go far enough.”
“We need to develop innovative solutions to our evolving health care needs and move with the times rather than being stuck in the backwaters. The people of the west coast need action now.”
Paul O’Halloran MP Greens Health Spokesperson
