Media release – Guy Barnett, Minister for Health, 17 August 2023
Ensuring health service continuity for St Marys community
The Rockliff Liberal Government is committed to delivering the highest standards of health care in rural communities across Tasmania, including St Marys and surrounding areas.
In recent months, the Department of Health has been engaging directly with Dr Cyril Latt, who runs a private general practice in St Marys from the St Marys Community Health Centre, independent of the Department of Health.
Despite acceptance of a two-year extension in July 2023, I can confirm that on 17 August 2023, Dr Latt has resigned as a Rural Medical Practitioner with the Tasmanian Health Service. He is required to provide three months’ notice under the employment agreement.
Dr Latt has also advised that he intends to sell his private general practice in St Marys.
Minister for Health, Guy Barnett, said the Government would work to ensure continuity of health services for the community of St Marys and surrounding areas.
“The Government is committed to the ongoing operation of the St Marys Community Health Centre,” Minister Barnett said.
“The Department of Health will work with Dr Latt to ensure a smooth transition of services at St Marys Community Health Centre to a new provider, and to encourage the establishment of a new GP service in the community.
“We would like to thank Dr Latt for his service to the St Marys community for the past 16 years.”
Media release – Independent Member for Lyons, John Tucker, MP, 18 August 2023
ST MARY’S RESIDENTS HAVE FIRE IN THEIR BELLIES
New Health Minister, the Hon. Guy Barnett, has been warned that he must urgently prioritise the health needs of rural and regional communities or risk a voter backlash from the bush at the next state election.
Independent member for Lyons, John Tucker, said people in regional and rural communities were entitled to the same services at the same cost as city residents.
“This includes health services – the most important services of all at every stage of life,” Mr Tucker said.
“The resignation of the St Mary’s doctor highlighted the problems of recruiting and retaining health professionals in regional communities. Dr Latt clearly did not want to resign. He was forced to do so because the health system was trying to turn him into an administrator rather than supporting his wish to be left to treat patients through the St Mary’s District Community Health Centre.
“This is a shocking indictment of the lack of flexibility in the health system and the lack of incentives and support to keep our existing rural medical work force as well as attract new recruits.
“This must change and Mr Barnett, who has paraded his country background throughout his career, needs to drive that change.
“If he is unable to do so, people will not be forgiving at the next election.
“Residents of rural and regional communities are not second-class citizens and should not be treated as such. Losing the only doctor in a regional or rural area spells disaster for those communities.
“It means the closure of their hospitals, GP practice and pharmacies, ultimately forcing people to move away. The GP crisis has been recognised as one of the main challenges in preventing rural and regional communities from unleashing their full potential. We need more incentives for doctors and nurses to want to work in regional and rural communities”.
“Towns will die if they don’t have proper access to a doctor or medical services. We deserve the same support and services as those living in the city,” Mr Tucker said.
Media release – Rebecca White MP, Tasmanian Labor Leader; Anita Dow MP, Shadow Minister for Health, Mental Health and Wellbeing; Jen Butler MP, Labor Member for Lyons, 18 August 2023
Resignation of Dr Cyril Latt
We extend our sincere gratitude and thanks to Dr Cyril Latt for his many years of dedicated service to the St Marys community and are sad to hear of his resignation.
The State Government has had more than 6 months to resolve this issue and provide support to Dr Latt, with multiple negotiations taking place over that time.
It was only on Tuesday this week that Health Minister Guy Barnett stated that the Government was working with Dr Latt and said, “I can provide an assurance that the St Marys community will have access to ongoing health and medical services.”
Clearly Mr Barnett was not telling the truth.
Dr Latt has been let down badly by the previous Health Minister Premier Jeremy Rockliff and the current Minister and Member for Lyons Guy Barnett.
Disgracefully they have not provided Dr Latt with the necessary support and have taken him for granted.
In contrast Labor has pledged to support the St Marys community and save the hospital if in Government, and our regional health care package would have done just that.
Labor’s policy will provide an additional rural generalist and five nurse practitioners to the St Marys Hospital, providing the necessary support to the local GP.
Without Dr Latt’s services the St Marys hospital cannot operate as a registered GP has to service the beds, meaning it will effectively close.
St Marys and the surrounding community will not have a GP, is at great risk of losing the pharmacy, and will not have a hospital.
Dr Latt has been operating without support for 10 years in the St Marys community and surrounds. This has meant Dr Latt has worked 80 hours a week, 7 days a week, for 10 years.
The Liberal Government has failed Dr Latt, they have failed the St Marys community and they have failed the North East of Tasmania.
