The District Nurses has formally confirmed the signing of a Heads of Agreement with Huonville-based Huon Eldercare for the transfer of services for the Tasman Health and Community Service (TH&CS) Centre.

Today’s announcement will see the operational services of Tasman’s community multi-purpose centre transfer in October of this year.

The District Nurses Chief Executive, Kim Macgowan, said both The District Nurses and Huon Eldercare have ensured the community has been their primary focus throughout the handover process.

“Our goal was to ensure the local community continued to receive quality health care services, therefore when we were approached by another service provider, we entered into discussions to explore the feasibility of transferring the contract,” Ms Macgowan said.

“After a lengthy negotiation period to ensure the quality of services to the community would remain high, Huon Eldercare lodged an expression of interest to take over the TH&CS service contract upon expiry.

“We want to take this opportunity to assure the community that all decisions have been made in order to provide the local community the best possible health care services.

“As part of the handover, Huon Eldercare is committed to delivering the highest possible standard of care and to ensure this, will also develop a health care plan to identify the health care needs of the broader community.”

In 2009 The District Nurses were awarded the contract from State and Australian Government departments to provide nursing and health care services through the Tasman Health & Community Service (TH&CS), a community multi-purpose centre in the municipality of Tasman in Tasmania’s south-east.

Since taking over the contract The District Nurses have consistently met or exceeded their contractual obligations, which has been acknowledged by the State and Australian Government departments who were responsible for the contract.

Huon Eldercare is a community based not-for-profit organisation providing rural health services, residential services and community care packages, and will take over the operations of the TH&CS as of the 1 October 2016.
GEORGI WICKS