Bed shortages are poor planning
OUR HEALTH SYSTEM
EVERY five years in Australia we have a census to determine the population so that adequate infrastructure is provided. Unfortunately, state governments neglect to commit to these necessary requirements, and I make reference to the Tasmanian hospital crisis.
The Liberal Party’s Heath Minister Michael Ferguson states he is a “grassroots person who is interested in working with positive members of the community in improving quality of life for Tasmanians”. Moreover, he states his vision is “for Tasmanians to be the happiest people enjoying the best quality of life”.
And recently he has stated he will provide 10 new hospital beds to the Royal Hobart Hospital including an extra 30 statewide, with the ultimate goal of 80. Let’s have a little look into this. The current average of beds per 1000 population in Tasmania is 2.5 as compared to the national average of 3.77. The national average in 1960 was recorded at 11.2, in 2002 at 7.4 and 2010 at 3.77.
This clearly shows the inaction of all governments since 1960 in recognising census statistics in providing adequate infrastructure, particularly in health and, in doing so, seem quite flippant in watching it decline. But even more remarkable is this, as noted above, Michael Ferguson has committed to providing 30 new beds, with an initial goal of up to 80 new hospital beds statewide to ease the current hospital crisis.
The current Tasmanian average of 2.5 beds per 1000 population equals 1250 beds. The national average of 3.77 if implemented within the Tasmanian population of 500,000 would equal 1885 beds. That is 635 beds short of the national average before the Ferguson upgrade, and still 555 beds short after the Ferguson upgrade.
What is quite clear here is we have a minister and a Government that is out of touch with not only census statistics, the cries and concerns of doctors and all those in the medical profession and those in the Accident and Emergency, but society as a whole.
It is reprehensible that this Health Minister, who states he is committed to the welfare and quality of life for Tasmanians, appears to put budget concerns ahead of people’s lives.
Private payments
MY suggestion to consider is raising thousands, possibly millions of dollars for the proposed redevelopment of the Royal Hobart Hospital and other public hospitals, is that each private health insured patient, who by choice or as a necessity, in respect to the oncology section, allow the RHH full access to their private health fund. Thereby they would be a “private patient” at the Royal. Annually thousands of people with private health insurance access the hospital. This could be the first step of compromise for the redevelopment of the hospital and other public hospitals in Tasmania — and an immense financial benefit.
System stretched
I WAS pleased to read on the front page of the Mercury on July 1 that the Member for Hobart, Rob Valentine, will be chairing an Upper House inquiry into the acute health A new way to have your say themercury.com.au readers have a new way to have their say. It’s free to use, just register and have your say. For more details and to register, visit the website. system. The inquiry also includes the delivery of services to mental health patients, which I also welcome. After 23 years of working as a health professional in the public health system, I recently resigned because of the dysfunction of the Tasmanian Health Service.
This was a very difficult decision to make, after working for so long alongside dedicated health professionals and staff for the health and wellbeing of patients and people using the health service.
Over many months, there has been an ongoing stream of issues raised by medical groups, patient groups, unions, the Greens, Labor and Andrew Wilkie about the health system. Most concerns have focused on the emergency departments of Tasmania’s hospitals.
With each week there are more bad tidings of ambulance ramping, patients spending unacceptably long periods of time in emergency before admission to a hospital bed, the inappropriate path to treatment for mental health patients, then not enough beds available to meet the demand.
Over winter there will be even greater pressure on the hospital staff, GPs, paramedical workers and community health service providers.
The health system is stretched and is falling short in meeting the needs of the Tasmanian community. It is very good news that the major hospitals across the state will be investigated according to the committee’s terms of reference.
We must fix the crisis in health. I look forward to both contributing to the committee, and eventually hearing its findings.
Wag the dog
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Decentralisation smarter
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Poor choice of words
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