The Health Minister must urgently intervene to fix a funding shortfall that is threatening to close beds at the Campbell Town Hospital.
The Premier has promised that front line services would be spared cost-cutting as a result of the economic downturn.
But at Campbell Town, the local GP has been asked not to admit patients to the hospital, and to transfer existing patients out of the facility, because there is apparently not enough funding for staff.
This morning, a palliative care patient has been unable to be admitted to a dedicated palliative care bed in their community, because of the situation.
There are fears in the community that this could be a first step towards downgrading the Campbell Town Hospital.
The State Government has form for cutting country health facilities, as we saw at Ouse and Rosebery.
Any downgrading of the Campbell Town hospital will be fiercely resisted by the community, and the Tasmanian Liberals.
It would also be a farcical response to bed pressures at the Launceston General Hospital, which the Campbell Town facility eases.
The Minister must urgently intervene and immediately address any funding shortfalls that have caused this situation at Campbell Town Hospital.
Rene Hidding MP Liberal Member for Lyons
