Statement from Minister Butler – Healthscope

Today Healthscope, one of the country’s largest private health care providers, announced it has entered administration.
 
This news will be highly distressing to the patients, staff and local communities that depend on Healthscope’s services.
 
While Healthscope have announced they will remain operating as normal with no change to patient care or staffing, this will still be difficult for the hospital’s employees, and their patients.
 
As Healthscope have today stated if you have a planned procedure in one of their hospitals it will go ahead.
 
Throughout this process the government has been meeting regularly with Healthscope and we have clear expectations the hospital group, lenders, and landlords to act cooperatively and deliver the least disruptive outcome for patients, staff, and the broader health system.
 
The Department of Health, Treasury, Finance and other relevant departments have been working closely to ensure the government is able to respond to these developments.
 
Today, the government has met with the administrator and the receiver to outline our priorities and expectations.
 
The government expects all parties to continue to put patient care and workers as their priority. We expect that these hospitals remain a critical part of our healthcare system.
 
The government does not want any of these important assets to be put in jeopardy to satisfy international investors.
 
As the government has said all along, there will be no taxpayer bailout. We remain steadfast in our view that an orderly sales process that maintains the integrity of the entire hospital group will provide the best outcome for patients, staff, landlords and lenders.