Anita Dow MP, Shadow Minister for Health, 5 June 2023
Ambulances ramped for 31,528 hours from July 2022 to March 2023
Ambulances were ramped for a staggering 31,528 hours across all four major hospitals from July 2022 to March 2023, it was revealed in Budget Estimates today.
That’s roughly the equivalent of five ambulances being ramped 24/7 over the nine month period, which represents a 55 per cent increase on the same nine month period from the year before (20,363 hours).
This statistic is a damning reflection of the state of Tasmania’s health system, and a damning reflection of the Rockliff Government’s priorities for Tasmania.
Since the minority Liberal Government came to office almost 10 years ago, ramping has become the norm.
Labor’s Right Priorities Plan provides practical solutions to take pressure off the state’s four main hospitals and reduce ramping by increasing access to health services closer to where people live and funding more ambulance paramedics.
Premier hasn’t asked Federal Government for LGH funding
After being asked nine times, Premier Jeremy Rockliff today confessed that he still hasn’t sought Federal Government for funding for Stage 2 of the Launceston General Hospital redevelopment.
This is despite the Liberals promising to seek Federal funding at the last election more than two years ago, saying “The Australian Government will be approached to partner in the funding of this significant redevelopment of Launceston’s public hospital.”
The Premier also revealed that a business case to accelerate the development with Federal funding hasn’t been produced.
It’s clear that in the meantime, the Premier has found time to ask for funding and develop a business case for his stadium in Hobart.
In 2022, the AMA said it was disappointed there was no Federal funding for either of Tasmania’s major hospitals in that year’s budget.
It’s now obvious the Premier went to the Federal Government this year with only one item on his budget wishlist – and that item was never going to help fix Tasmania’s health crisis.
After ten years in office, the Rockliff minority Government has clearly lost sight of the right priorities for Tasmania.
If the Premier wasn’t so obsessed with building a stadium in Hobart, Tasmanians across the state would be far better off.
Media release – Kathrine Morgan-Wicks, Secretary, Department of Health, 2 June 2023
Appointment of Chief Executives of Ambulance Tasmania and Hospitals North West
The Department of Health is pleased to announce appointments to two key senior executive roles within the health system, with Jordan Emery appointed as Chief Executive of Ambulance Tasmania and Paula Hyland appointed as Chief Executive Hospitals North West following competitive recruitment processes.
Mr Emery has been Acting Chief Executive at Ambulance Tasmania since January 2023, and at several other stages since his initial recruitment to Ambulance Tasmania in January 2022 as Executive Director of Operations.
Mr Emery brings significant experience to the role, having worked as a paramedic and in various senior positions within the NSW Ambulance service between 2008 and 2022.
The appointment follows the departure of previous Ambulance Tasmania Chief Executive Joe Acker, who left the Department of Health last week to return to his native Canada for personal and family reasons.
Secretary of the Department of Health, Kathrine Morgan-Wicks, congratulated Mr Emery on his appointment.
“Jordan has already made a significant and positive impact in our health system during his time with Ambulance Tasmania to date, and I look forward to continuing to work with him in supporting the delivery of this vital service to Tasmanians,’’ she said.
“Jordan is a strong leader, with significant senior executive experience and an intimate knowledge and understanding of paramedicine. We are pleased to have secured such an outstanding person to guide Ambulance Tasmania moving forward.”
Ms Hyland has been appointed as Chief Executive Hospitals North West, having acted in the role since February 2023. Ms Hyland brings considerable experience to the role, having provided consistently assured and steady leadership throughout her tenure to date.
Ms Hyland has provided dedicated services to health in the north west region since moving to Tasmania in 2004 for a role as Manager of Speech Pathology. She then progressed to become the Director of Allied Health Services for the north west region and then Executive Director of Allied Health for the region in 2017.
Ms Morgan-Wicks congratulated Ms Hyland on her appointment to the role.
“Paula’s considerable knowledge, skills and experience of working in the north west makes her the ideal person to continue to provide the stability and assured governance that is required,’’ Ms Morgan-Wicks said.
“Paula’s appointment comes at an important time for Hospitals North West and I look forward to continuing to work with her to deliver the best possible health services to the communities of the north west.”
The Department of Health can also confirm that while a recruitment process is underway, Fiona Lieutier will fulfil the role of Acting Chief Executive – Hospitals North following the departure this week of Chief Executive Jen Duncan. Ms Lieutier has recently been working in the role of Chief Executive of Public Health Services.
A recruitment process is also underway for the role of Deputy Secretary – Hospitals and Primary Care, within the Department of Health.
