Health opportunities lost

THERE were two startling and important health articles in the Mercury this week, which get right to the heart of Tasmania’s huge cultural and political problems in this area. And it’s not really about money. The first was from Alexandra Humphries on the crisis in hospital acute medical care. What has happened after the $12 million of Commonwealth funds allocated by the Gillard government that were spent on “clinical redesign” of patient flows at the Royal Hobart Hospital to sort out this very problem? The answer is almost nothing apart perhaps from a few social science PhD theses.

KPMG spent over two years analysing the system and highlighting issues, almost all related to “the flow” of acutely ill “medical” patient admissions. The problem is not a shortage of beds or infrastructure but who controls them — too much time spent in ED with double-handling of patients rather than direct admissions; poor support from specialist units for acute medicine; inappropriate allocation of beds and people to general acute admissions and to immediate need; and allocation of resources by “empire” politics. Health management and government did not take ownership of these truths, and nothing has changed — just large amounts of energy and money expended and clinical change-leaders trashed.

Bryan Walpole’s Talking Point dealt with the inability to develop an “academic healthcare centre”, which means the state is losing out on very large amounts of government research investment through the Health Research Super-fund, which is going to almost all other states. I was involved 10 years ago with an attempt to get this established with integration of a “new” (Menzies) Research Institute with the hospital sector and Faculty of Health, which almost got there. But the opportunity was lost through poor central leadership, lack of vision, negativity and selfish attempts to save money and hold power short-term through fragmentation, rather than investing for the future.

Both stories are true, frankly pathetic and indeed scandalous. But such is Tasmania’s sad reality. increasing demand for a quicker and cheaper alternative which would have to embrace Bass Strait islands. King Island is a tourism goldmine with its world-class golf courses, scenery and cuisine. The high cost of airfares must be an impediment for many wishing to holiday on this sensational island paradise. I have no doubt Incat, with a state-of-the-art high-speed vessel, could provide an economical searoad service, further enhancing Tasmania’s vibrant tourism industry.

Keep foreshore special

I ATTENDED a community meeting at Bellerive last Saturday, outside the old ferry terminal at Kangaroo Bay. It was sunny and cold, the sausages were sizzling and the river was sparkling. There were about 200 people there, to listen to news on the proposed development at Kangaroo Bay foreshore.

I still cannot believe how the State Government and Clarence City Council could try to do this to our local community and the people of Hobart. This is the best stretch of public land along the river. No wonder foreign investors want it for a hospitality school and associated hotel complex. Our own TAFE, it seems, is not likely to be involved.

We could see from where we stood the extent of the proposed buildings, which would tower above us. They will block out the foreshore along Cambridge Rd to Bellerive Village, higher than the pedestrian walkway and around seven buses in length, nearly 100 metres of solid structure. It will cut off the whole suburb from its own public foreshore. And it is in contravention to the Kangaroo Bay Development Plan 2015, which was done with public consultation, and allowed for development, but not like this. The meeting on Saturday was unanimous in its strong request that this does not go ahead.

Outdoor gym

YOUR reader (Letters, September 15) is obviously not aware there is a full adult outdoor gym at the end of the bike track on the Regatta Grounds. The Rotary Club of Sullivans Cove, with the assistance of a contribution from Nyrstar, donated the gym to Hobart City Council in 2012. The land, pre-preparation works and maintenance have all been provided by Hobart council. The Rotary Club raised the funds by manning the Houses of Parliament car park for Salamanca Market. The gym was valued at $28,000. The Rotary Club of Sullivans Cove has distributed over half a million dollars to causes all over the state and overseas.