Our staff ‘really love the Royal’

AN overnight visit to the Royal Hobart Hospital has shown new Health Minister Sarah Courtney a system that is “far from a mess” staffed by dedicated employees, she says.

Ms Courtney spent Wednesday night in the RHH visiting different wards and speaking with hospital employees about the challenges they faced at the busy facility.

The Bass Liberal MHA also toured the redeveloped RHH building, the first stage of which is scheduled for completion in September.

“It was a very informative time to understand the issues, but probably more so the opportunity to be able to hear from people and hear their views, hear about the things that they find challenging and hear about the excitement about what’s happening in the future,” Ms Courtney said.

“I also found it really heartening how many people who work here have worked here for decades.

“It’s amazing we have such a cohort of people who really love the Royal.”

Ms Courtney also visited the Launceston General Hospital and the Oatlands MultiPurpose Health Centre within 48 hours of being sworn into the portfolio.

Premier Will Hodgman’s decision to move her into the role came as a surprise, she said, but she described the appointment as an enormous privilege.

Former health minister Michael Ferguson was in the role five years after famously requesting a second term in the portfolio. He had faced mounting calls in recent months to step aside amid growing pressure in the system — particularly at the RHH.

Ms Courtney has taken on two of Mr Ferguson’s key health advisers — Chris Edwards and Kyle Lowe. She yesterday paid tribute to the legacy of her predecessor.

“While it’s not something specific that will differentiate Michael from myself, I think that we will both look at things with fresh eyes, in different ways, and being the new minister I will obviously have a high degree of enthusiasm in this role,” Ms Courtney said.

“I have to say, Michael Ferguson has the most enormous work ethic, the most enormous heart.

“I’m very cognisant I have very big shoes to fill in terms of his attitude and his empathy in this area and his desire to get good outcomes.”

Ms Courtney’s priorities in the coming weeks will be to meet with health stakeholders, including unions, and learn about the notoriously complex public health system and budget.