Big step closer to meeting our growing needs

Royal Hobart strategy works for the short and long-term, says Michael Ferguson

THE Hodgman Liberal Government this week released the Royal Hobart Hospital Masterplan, a major step towards ensuring the new RHH meets the growing demand for health services over coming decades.

Initiating the masterplan process was an election commitment, to ensure the future use of the RHH was consistent with clinical advice and best practice. Chaired by Tasmanian’s Chief Medical Officer, Professor Tony Lawler, the Clinical Planning Taskforce has provided expert clinical advice on health planning in Tasmania. By accepting every recommendation in the Masterplan, the Government is taking immediate action to address current demand pressures, and committing to a long-term vision to guide future development at the city site and the repatriation site over the next 30 years.

Our number one priority is to complete the current redevelopment, which remains on track for practical completion this year, and to open 250 new beds in the South by 2024.

In line with the taskforce’s recommendations, we have also now committed to fund and commence stage 2 of the redevelopment, to be delivered over the next three years, including: IMMEDIATE improvement to lift infrastructure with a second dedicated patient lift to connect the Emergency Department, Intensive Care Unit, medical imaging and JBlock; EXPANSION of the Emergency Department, to meet increasing patient numbers; COMPREHENSIVE refurbishment of A-block, which will provide contemporary space for additional beds; EXPANSION of the ICU in its current location, providing space for another 10 beds on the same floor by 2024, and staying close to medical imaging, which is used frequently by ICU patients; and REFIT of the soon-to-bevacated J-block to meet additional demand and provide for new clinical uses.

These works will cost an estimated $91 million and funding will be reflected in the 2019-20 budget, but we are proceeding with this stage immediately.

The Hodgman Liberal Government is committed to future-proofing the Royal Hobart Hospital and building a better health system for all Tasmanians. That is why, following the Stage 2 works, Stage 3 would feature a future redevelopment of the Repatriation Hospital site as a dedicated sub-acute and mental health campus of the RHH, in line with the recommendations of the taskforce.

This provides a one-in-50year opportunity to work with consumers and staff to plan a future dedicated mental health facility, including more privacy and outdoor space.

The RHH Masterplan complements significant investments in North and North-West Tasmania, with the Clinical Planning Taskforce working on a masterplan for the Launceston General Hospital. This will help inform the $87 million LGH redevelopment, and a range of other capital projects under way at the Mersey Community Hospital and the North West Regional Hospital.

Delivery of health services can be extremely challenging, but as we build better facilities and open more services, we will see better outcomes.

Health has always been and remains for us a top priority, which is why we have invested a record $757 million into health over six years, and why we are finishing this vital RHH redevelopment that previous governments could not start.

Bass MHA Michael Ferguson is Tasmanian Health Minister.