Regional communities invited to seek Commmonwealth takeover of local hospitals
Health Minister Tony Abbott has invited regional communities to contact him if they would like the Federal Government to organise a community based takeover of their hospital, following a similar move in Devonport Tasmanian, announced by the Prime Minister.
The Tasmanian Government had planned to downgrade the level of services provided at the Devonport Hospital, as part of a statewide reorganisation of health services.
The Prime Minister said where local communities were unhappy about state government health services he was prepared to ‘plug holes’.
While the Australian Medical Association has backed the plan, other groups such as the Rural Doctors of Australia Association and the Australian Healthcare Association (representing public hospitals) have expressed reservations, particularly with the timing of the announcement.
State premiers have attacked it as politically motivated.