AMA WELCOMES HEALTH PORTFOLIO RESHUFFLE

"The Tasmanian Health Service and the Health portfolio has been caught in a deepening crisis for an extended period. The AMA sees this Cabinet reshuffle as a sensible way of health moving forward with a fresh start.

"The AMA has called for and continues to anticipate significant restructuring in the health bureaucracy and THS and hopes to see the empowerment of the northern and southern hospital area networks to deliver better and more timely patient services.

"We hope to see our hospitals empowered with decision-making authority and effective local management structures” Prof Burgess added

"A Ministerial restructure creates important opportunities to end the reactive mess the system has been caught in; however, there needs to a fresh approach throughout the Health bureaucracy and a hard look at how to improve the culture in the health bureaucracy.

"The AMA now looks forward to a new way forward that will address the real problems in our State's health system, one that puts resources where the patients need them and acts on constructive advice and responds to well-founded and sincere concerns by clinical experts.

"The AMA would also like to acknowledge the effort and work previously done by Minister Ferguson in leading development of discussions around the delineation of the services to be provided by Tasmania's hospitals.

"The AMA also reiterated the need for more staff, particularly nursing and clinical support staff at our major hospitals and stands ready to support the new Minister in leading this improvement."

ENDS

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MEDIA CONTACT

Professor John Burgess – AMA Tasmania – 0417 302 803

Lara Giddings – CEO AMA Tasmania – 0400 417 160