Tasmania’s regional rural health left out in the cold

Today’s announcement by Primary Health Tasmania of its preferred tenderers “confirms our worst fears” says federal Labor Lyons MP Brian Mitchell.
“Service providers who live and work in regional communities are to be replaced by five state wide services. This is a typical top-down ‘we know best’ attitude from people who do not live nor work in regional communities.”
“I again call on federal health minister Sussan Ley to come out of hiding and to personally intervene to save Tasmania’s community based health services.
“Health services like those offered at Kentish and Meander Valley are doing exactly what they were designed to do – keeping people healthy, mobile, socially connected and out of hospital. It beggars belief they are to be axed.
“These services enjoy broad community support, as shown by the packed house at Sheffield town hall last week. It is time for Minister Ley to start listening to the community.
“I again call on Minister Ley to keep existing services going for at least 6 months while Primary Health introduces its new model. The two models can be reviewed and the gaps and duplication identified. A decision can then be made about how to proceed.
“Regional and rural communities are sick of being ignored by Health Minister Sussan Ley. It’s time for her to act to save our health services.”
BRIAN MITCHELL MP FEDERAL LABOR MEMBER FOR LYONS