Hospital reform drive

State Government aims to boost local decision making

THE State Government will introduce legislation to restructure the Tasmanian health system when Parliament resumes for the first time since the March 3 election.

Health Minister Michael Ferguson said the legislation would aim for stronger decision making in hospitals.

During its last term in office, the Government brought the three Tasmanian regional health organisations under the umbrella of the Tasmanian Health Services.

Then in December Mr Fer- guson said the Liberals would legislate to remove THS chief executive David Alcorn and the nine-person governing council and give the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services ultimate responsibility for the THS by July. The move came in response to adverse findings in a Deloitte investigation into the state’s health system.

“One thing we want to improve is to get stronger decision making in local hospitals, so that legislation is now ready,” he said.

“This is the legislation that the Labor Party demanded that Parliament be recalled for and I am delighted to say that not only is it ready it will be introduced this week.’’

Mr Ferguson said the legislation had the widespread support of unions, stakeholders and health consumer groups.

He said the Government would unveil its first year plan to ensure that it delivered on promises made during the election campaign.

“It will be set out in considerable detail the many initiatives that we took to the last election, the time frames for their implementation and objective measures,” he said.

“This is something that hasn’t been done prior to our time in government and it worked well in the last term so we want to continue to use that.’’

Labor leader Rebecca White said there were questions for the new Housing Minister Roger Jaensch, who was “not in control of his portfolio at all”.

“He seems to be completely hands off when it comes to speaking to those living in a tent and unable to access affordable housing,” she said.

“I think Roger Jaensch can expect to be in the firing line because he does not seem to be up to the job.’’

She said there were still problems in the health system and hospital resourcing with flu season approaching.

Ms White said there were also issues about transparency, including the cable car and election donation disclosures.

Mr Ferguson revealed that an interstate provider had shown interest in providing abortion services in Tasmania but the Government would not provide funding.

“The department is advising that potential provider about the steps they would need to take in order to gain a licence,’ he said.