ALP supports many of the Australian Medical Association Tasmania Initiatives.
President of the AMA Tasmania Dr Stuart Day responded to the ALP health policy released today saying that, “AMA Tasmania welcomes the commitment of the ALP to investment in health, both additional staff and the bed infrastructure.”
“Members welcomed the plan to employ 20 more doctors in the public sector however we note that there remains a number of key specialist vacancies within our hospitals that need urgent replacement.”
The ALP has listened with their important focus on Mental Health. Dr Day said, “The commitment to fund much needed additional acute mental health beds is what the AMA has been calling on for over a year.”
It is crucial that Tasmania train its own health workforce and GP Internships and graduate nursing positions are also welcome. The vast majority of healthcare occurs out of hospitals with our General Practitioners and health professionals. It is pleasing that the ALP will support the recent governance changes, the role of the DHHS in our major hospitals and commit to ongoing consultation with clinical staff. A stable, wellfunctioning hospital system is more attractive for recruitment of doctors and is better equipped to cope with the increasing demands for health care.
Preventative health remains vitally important. The commitment to address Tasmania’s unacceptably high smoking rates is urgently needed.
ENDS
Media contact: Tony Steven CEO 0409 219 368 or Nadine Cove, AMA Tasmania 03 6223
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