Work starts to reshape the top-level of bureaucracy

HEALTH Minister Michael Ferguson says work has started preparing for changes to the Tasmanian Health Service executive, in which it will remove chief executive David Alcorn and the THS governing council by July.

In response to the findings of a damning Deloitte investigation into the state’s underpressure health system, the Government announced it would legislate to remove Dr Alcorn and the nine-person council to give the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services ultimate responsibility for the THS and to allow key decision-making to be returned to local hospitals.

Mr Ferguson said he had written to stakeholders to start the process.

“We have made it clear that the next sitting of Parliament will be after the election and that’s a necessary early step by the Government after the election to make the necessary changes to the law to allow the abolition of the governing council and the CEO so that means a change to the act, only parliament can do that,” he said.

“But the most important thing we can do is our activity where we are working between Government and stakeholders about the consultation I spoke about on the weekend.

“It’s exactly what is happening today, I am writing to our stakeholder organisations and asking them to be a part of that because we actually need problem solving and a collaborative attitude.”

A stumbling block could be Dr Alcorn is two years into his five-year contract with an annual package of $500,000 — which Mr Ferguson said the Government would need to work through carefully.

“So we will deal with that in a respectful way and also understanding that this is a change that is widely endorsed by all of our stakeholders,” he said.

Dr Alcorn did not comment yesterday.

Mr Ferguson hinted that this would be different with the Governing Council, which in-

The absolute urgency of dealing with this issue is apparent to all ... hospitals and patients now remain at risk within a failing system

— FRANK NICKLASON

cludes chair John Ramsay — on a $185,000 a year package from the THS — and members Dr Emil Djakic ($39,000), Professor Denise Fassett ($46,000), Barbara Hingston ($36,000), Mark Scanlon ($39,000), Professor Judith Walker ($40,000), Martin Wallace ($39,000), Dr Judith Watson ($46,000) and Associate Professor Deborah Wilson ($38,000).

“They are Government appointments,” he said.

The Mercury yesterday obtained an email by Mr Ramsay sent from the officer of the THS CEO to staff, saying “political parties have been articulating policies concerning the governance structure for the Tasmanian Health Service” and until changes were implemented it was “business at usual”.

Mr Ferguson and Premier Will Hodgman ruled out recalling State Parliament to enact the change quickly.

“We need to work through that to assist us in understanding what Bill we need to take to Parliament which is why it is frankly a political stunt to ask for Parliament to come back early when there is not even a Bill,” Mr Ferguson said.

Mr Hodgman said it could not be rushed.

“We need to get a sense of perspective here,” he said.

“Work is under way and will continue without needing Parliament to be recalled.”

Labor leader Rebecca White said the Government could not leave the health system in limbo for six more months.

“In the case of the Glenorchy City Council, the Gov- ernment sacked the council one day and had legislation drawn up for parliament the next,” she said.

“Sufficient consultation has occurred. The reform is widely supported by clinicians.

“It would provide some certainty for a health system that’s clearly in crisis.”

RHH Staff Association chairman Frank Nicklason said action had to be taken now.

“The absolute urgency of dealing with this issue is apparent to all,” he said.

“Hospitals and patients now remain at risk within a failing system. The governing council and the CEO are now in an untenable position of effective political no confidence, yet seem incapable to recognise it.

“Our AMA members are calling on the AMA to support immediate action, including if required supporting a recall of Parliament, due to a lack of confidence in the Minister’s true intent or the governing council’s credibility in dealing with the failed THS executive and its CEO.”