The Hodgman Liberal Government is fixing the broken health system so that Tasmanians can have access to the best quality health care.
Today I am pleased to announce the next steps in the establishment of One State, One Health System, Better Outcomes.
To give Tasmania the sustainable health system it deserves, we need to do things differently. We cannot continue repeating the same decisions from the past which have created an inefficient health system that fails to provide the same level of health care in Tasmania compared with other jurisdictions. The Liberal Government has provided record funding for health and we want it to be used to get the best possible health outcomes.
In late September, we released our Implementation Plan for the White Paper, and we are on track to deliver the new and improved statewide services detailed in the Implementation Plan. Key milestones include commencement of the North West Cancer Centre, additional surgical services provided from the Mersey Community Hospital and enhanced patient transport and accommodation.
As we implement the reforms, we are continuing to identify where efficiencies and duplication reduction can be achieved across the THS. This will free up resources to provide more services that the community needs and cannot currently access.
The new Tasmanian Health Service, headquartered in Launceston, is focusing on ongoing consolidation of management, administrative and corporate functions. When we announced our intention to merge three THOs into one THS we estimated it would save $7 million per year in triplicated administration costs. These are funds which are better spent on stronger services to the community.
Today I can advise that THS management will shortly open an opportunity for expressions of interests for voluntary redundancy and workforce renewal incentive programs.
To save the previously estimated $7 million per year, a reduction of approximately 80 positions will be required. As we have previously stated, there will be no forced redundancies and the reduction will be within the 1,200 FTE reductions we announced in our first Budget.
As I have previously indicated, only roles that aren’t directly involved in patient care will be targeted, and savings will be reinvested in the frontline.
Michael Ferguson, Minister for Health
