New Mersey Community Hospital Funding Agreement Signed

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PDF printable version of New Mersey Community Hospital Funding Agreement Signed (PDF 16 KB)

28 June 2011

The future of the Mersey Community Hospital at Latrobe has been assured through a new three-year funding deal signed between the Australian and Tasmanian Governments today.

Commonwealth Minister for Health and Ageing Nicola Roxon and Tasmanian Minister for Health Michelle O’Byrne welcomed the new agreement as providing for the continuation of high quality health care for people living in North West Tasmania.

“The signing of this new three-year agreement means that the Mersey Community Hospital will continue to provide important services such as the emergency department and high dependency unit, as it has since we signed the previous agreement in 2008,” Ms Roxon said.

“Under the new agreement the Commonwealth Government will provide Mersey with $197.6 million over the next three years, an increase compared to the $180 million provided under the previous three year agreement.

“The new agreement specifies the exact same core services as per the previous agreement such as the high dependency unit, 24 hour/7 day emergency department, low risk obstetrics and gynecological care, surgery, oncology and outpatient care.

“This investment in the Mersey Hospital follows the Gillard Government’s commitment of $340 million to a new Royal Hobart Hospital and $88.9 million for elective surgery, emergency departments and 30 more sub acute beds.”

Ms O’Byrne said that the new agreement will mean additional funding of $17.56 million for the Mersey Community Hospital over the three year life of the agreement.

“The Mersey’s continued funding is secured, and patients can rely upon its services and dedicated staff being available into the future,” Minister O’Byrne said.

“I wish to congratulate the Australian Government for their continued support for the delivery of health services for the Coast.

“The funding will enable the Tasmanian Government to continue to deliver high quality services to the residents within the Mersey area, and to ensure the hospital can continue to operate on a sustainable basis over the next three years.

“The extensive negotiations with the Australian Government have been positive and thorough to ensure the Mersey is clinically and financially sustainable and continues to meet the expectations of the community as part of the Tasmanian Health and Hospitals Network.”

“The Mersey Community Hospital will operate as part of the Tasmanian Health and Hospitals Network which will ensure that integrated care and safe, high quality health services will continue to be provided to residents in the North West.

The Mersey Community Hospital has been owned by the Commonwealth since 23 November 2007 and operated and managed by the Tasmanian Government since 1 September 2008. The new agreement on funding will operate from 1 July 2011.

For all media inquiries, please contact the Minister's Office on 02 6277 7220