While Beds Sit Empty on the Ward
www.tas.greens.org.au
The Tasmanian Greens broke the news that the Bartlett Government intends to close down four out of six acute care beds at the Campbell Town District Hospital, leaving just two beds available for use by the local community, one of which is set aside for respite care only, and called on Labor to reverse this decision.
Greens Health spokesperson Cassy O’Connor MP, who visited Campbell Town District Hospital today and spoke with staff, said patients presenting in Campbell Town are now being told that there are no acute care beds available and that the only alternative is to travel 70 kilometres to St Mary’s.
Ms O’Connor also said that Tasmania’s Health Plan clearly shows that Campbell Town District Hospital offers the most efficient and cost-effective rural healthcare in the state, and the government should be doing everything possible to ensure that it can continue to deliver a good service at low-cost, instead of allowing it to decline. [see attached]
“It is simply unacceptable for the doctor at Campbell Town to be put in a position where she is telling patients that there are no acute care beds available when there are empty beds on the ward,” said Ms O’Connor.
“The Premier has made much of his social inclusion agenda for Tasmania, and he must take a direct interest in this issue to ensure that people living in and around Campbell Town are not missing out on the health services they need. Access to quality, affordable public health services is key to any meaningful social inclusion agenda.”
“This decision is not only dangerous, it is also demonstrates a failure to strategically allocate scarce resources.”
“The Tasmanian Labor Government has been winding down rural health services for a number of years. It must not be allowed to get away with running down Campbell Town’s hospital as well.”
“The Bartlett Government must ensure that all beds at Campbell Town remain open for local people in need of acute care,” said Ms O’Connor.
[Tasmania’s Health Plan Summary, published May 2007, Figure 6: Annual cost per occupied bed 2005-06, p25,
http://www.dhhs.tas.gov.au/__
data/assets/pdf_file/
0008/28484/HealthPlan
Summary_nav.pdf ]
Cassy O’Connor MP Greens Health Spokesperson
