It makes sense to stay the line
Pre COVID 19 the State Governments 2019‑20 budget projected investment in infrastructure including hospitals and health was $352.6 million, providing over $90 million to deliver Stage 2 of the Royal Hobart Hospital Redevelopment, including $63 million in new funding.
Government now is not the time to turn away from these commitments. In anticipation of tomorrows State Government Infrastructure Budget announcement, AMA Tasmania Vice President Dr John Davis “strongly urges the government to recognise the need not only to stay the line with this funding commitment to continue to improve the state’s health care system but to allow Tasmania's health infrastructure to keep up with both innovation and demand.
“While the delivery of the new K Block at the RHH, the opening of new beds, the introduction of the Hospital in the Home program, the establishment of an LGH Master Planning reference Group, and the commitment to Mental Health Reform have all been welcomed, further investment in health infrastructure must be included in any infrastructure stimulus package and that investment should not be restricted to physical infrastructure.
“As the ramping of telehealth services has shown us over these past months, ICT is the bricks and mortar of the future; our Tasmanian health IT systems are antiquated and need urgent upgrading with a state-wide ICT strategy.
“Now is the time to implement new infrastructure builds including Primary Care Short Stay units and expanded ICU capacity, and further increases to annual budget allocations which will allow needed maintenance of hospital equipment across the state.
“Capital investment must be provided to bring forward the masterplan for the RHH. While we welcomed the commitment to Stage 2, there is no denying a thirty-year wait for the entire masterplan to be delivered would prolong the operating at crisis levels, to breaking point.
“Support for the Launceston General Hospital Master planning process to ensure the LGH can manage increasing demand and deliver modern and efficient health services into the future with the appropriate infrastructure in place.
Finally, while AMA wholeheartedly welcomes the governments committed investment into first home buyers and new home builds in putting a roof over Tasmanians and creating jobs. Likewise, further investment in the health system will also help to generate more jobs for Tasmanians and stimulate our economy while at the time providing the modern well-equipped health system Tasmanians deserve.