Hospital funding concern

THE peak body for emergency medicine says the State Budget will not cure Tasmania’s ailing health system.

Australasian College for Emergency Medicine president Simon Judkins said the spending on health would not address existing pressures, let alone future patient demand.

“We have repeatedly said we are keen to work with the Government, hospital leadership and health department executives to develop the actions to improve patient outcomes,” Dr Judkins said.

ACEM withdrew the Launceston General Hospital’s emergency training accreditation in March because the hospital did not meet standards.

The Royal Hobart Hospital medical staff association said it was “deeply concerned” the budget would not meet the needs of patients presenting at the RHH with severe mental illness, or older patients with complex medical problems.

It had concerns about plans for acute psychiatry beds in the redeveloped K Block, and had asked Health Minister Michael Ferguson to meet senior clinicians to discuss the issues.

Mr Ferguson said the budget included $95 million for mental health, 25 new mental health beds and the state’s first specialist child and adolescent mental health facilities.

“We are continuing the work we did in the first term of government, opening more beds, reopening wards and recruiting more doctors and nurses,” Mr Ferguson said.

TCCI chief Michael Bailey said more preventative health funding was needed.