Howard wrong on Mersey Hospital – AHA

The Howard Government’s decision to override the Tasmanian government and directly fund the Mersey Hospital in north-west Tasmania displays an ignorance of the modern healthcare and hospital system and will not give the community in Devonport the high quality health care that they deserve, according to the Australian Healthcare Association (AHA).

“The decision by the Tasmanian Government to change the role of the Mersey Hospital was not simply about money and funding. It followed a thorough planning exercise to ensure high quality services are strategically located across the whole of Tasmania and are able to be maintained for the long-term,” Prue Power, executive director, AHA said.

“Modern hospitals that provide intensive care and emergency facilities have certain requirements in order to provide a quality service. These include sufficient staff, with the appropriate training in these areas, and a high enough patient through-put to ensure their clinical skills remain current. A hospital with a high level intensive care unit requires a minimum population of 100,000 to 150,000 people. In smaller communities there is simply not the patient throughput needed to maintain doctors’ competencies. This can result in their skills being eroded through lack of experience and the end result in a poorer quality of service to the community.”

If it intends to take over more regional health services, the AHA calls on the Government to adopt a planned approach aimed at integrating its programs with state-run hospitals in rural and regional areas.

“It is vital that additional funding brings about greater integration and coordination of health services, rather than entrenching its current fragmentation,” Ms Prue Power said.

“Putting money into one hospital or health service in isolation will make no difference and will not achieve the best outcomes for the community. It is more likely to create a situation where hospitals have to compete for doctors, nurses and other resources, thereby jeopardizing the sustainability of clinical services.

“In fact, the best strategy for supporting public hospitals and
improving coordination for people is to also fund community-based
services. As the Commonwealth Government already has responsibility for a high level of health services in rural communities through its Aged Care and Medicare programs, AHA urges it to cooperate with state governments.”