Future management arrangements for the Mersey Community Hospital close to finalisation.

2 July 2008

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The Australian Government has offered to provide $60 million a year to Tasmania to ensure that the Mersey Community Hospital continues to play a strong role in providing ongoing services to the community.

This builds on our significant investment in the Tasmanian Health System, including:

• $5m towards the establishment of a GP Super Clinic in Devonport
• $2.5m towards the establishment of a GP After Hours clinic in Burnie
• $7.5m towards the establishment of a GP Super Clinic for the eastern shores of Hobart and surrounding areas, with clinics at both Bellerive and Sorrell
• $15m towards an Integrated Care Centre in Launceston
• $7.7m towards the establishment of an additional radiation oncology unit in the North or North West
• $3.5m for a PET scanner at Royal Hobart Hospital
• $10m for community patient transport services

The Australian Government has been negotiating with the Tasmanian Government about the ongoing management arrangements at the Mersey Community Hospital and we hope to have these finalised in the coming days.

Throughout the negotiations we have ensured that the local community and the hard working staff of the Mersey Community Hospital were given the high priority they deserve.

We also recognise that providing certainty about the Hospital's future is important and have sought a three year management arrangement with the Tasmanian Government.

The Australian Government are seeking to have all staff currently working at the Mersey offered employment with the Tasmanian Department of Health and Human Services.

We are also seeking to have a continuation of the current services, with the financial offer also allowing an expansion of the range of services provided to the local community within the allocated budget. These services could include renal dialysis, rehabilitation, transition care for older patients, and more elective surgery.

For media inquiries only, please contact Mark Ward 0437 125 938
For any general inquiries, please contact the Minister’s Office on 02 6277 7220

 

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