Royal Hobart Hospital helipad a life-saving initiative

The Hodgman Liberal Government has put the critical Royal Hobart Hospital upgrade back on track, an upgrade which will include a life-saving helipad which was strangely omitted by the Labor Government’s original plan.

Hobart is currently the only Australian capital not to have proper air access capability to its major tertiary hospital – this must end.

I want to make very clear that when it comes to the helipad and the hospital project the Liberal Government’s number one priority is saving the lives of Tasmanians, and quite frankly, this should be everyone’s number one priority.

The Hobart City Council approvals process for the helipad is underway now.

Stakeholders are able to participate in this process, but I want to make very clear the Government and the community’s view that saving lives always comes first.

We will not countenance compromising the addition of the helipad and it is clear the community and the medical fraternity will judge harshly any view that we should do so.

We have made this very clear to all stakeholders, including the Theatre Royal Management Board, who have raised issues with the Government relating to the helipad.

We will work with stakeholders, but we would not expect any stakeholder to place other objectives ahead of saving lives.

The helipad has received a groundswell of support, from Ambulance Tasmania, from senior clinicians, and most overwhelmingly from the Tasmanian community.

Professor Marcus Skinner, the director of anaesthesia at the Royal, who was formerly involved in RAAF air rescues in tsunami-hit Indonesia, is a strong supporter of the helipad.

Professor Skinner estimates that at least a life a year could be saved when the 30-minute transfer from the Domain helipad is eliminated.

We look forward to the Hobart City Council’s approval of the helipad and the support of all stakeholders towards this life-saving infrastructure.
Michael Ferguson, Minister for Health