Proposed changes to THS governance structure criticised by state’s senior doctors

Senior medical staff at the Royal Hobart Hospital have voiced significant concerns over proposed changes to the governance structure of the Tasmanian Health Service at an emergency meeting on Tuesday night, called by the Royal Hobart Hospital’s Medical Staff Association.

AMA Tasmania President A/Prof Tim Greenaway said the proposed structure is unworkable and centralises the clinical governance of Tasmania’s public hospitals whilst neglecting local facility-based management and leadership.

“The rationale for the proposed clinical streams is unclear and inconsistent. The proposed changes add another layer of bureaucracy. Dr Alcorn has provided no evidence to support his case that the patient journey will be improved by these changes,” said A/Prof Greenaway. “We can find no evidence of similar governance structures in the Australian healthcare system.

“The proposed changes will disempower individual hospitals and threaten the effectiveness of clinical governance, particularly at the state’s biggest teaching hospital, the Royal Hobart.

“Senior medical staff believe the proposed changes will hinder the effectiveness with which hospitals will be able to deliver services.

“I also note that senior staff at the LGH have held similar meetings and share the concerns of staff at the RHH. Tasmanian patients will be the losers if our hospitals are sacrificed by building an out of touch bureaucracy,” A/Prof Greenaway said.

“We are calling on Tasmanian Health Service CEO Dr David Alcorn and the Tasmanian Minister for Health Michael Ferguson to commission an independent review into the workability of the proposed structure.”
AMA Tasmania President A/Prof Tim Greenaway