AMA Welcomes the White Paper Release

AMA Tasmania President A/Prof Tim Greenaway said the AMA supported the key principles of the document in the interests of improving patient safety and quality outcomes for patient care in Tasmania.

“It is pleasing to see that the Government is committed to implement change, as AMA Tasmania’s main concern is to see better health outcomes for all Tasmanians,” A/Prof Greenaway said.

“It is encouraging to note that the importance of role delineation for our hospitals has been accepted. The fact that not all services can be provided at every hospital in Tasmania is clearly acknowledged by the White Paper. “Four major hospitals all offering complex services in a state of only 515,000 people is inefficient, potentially unsafe and can no longer continue.”

The AMA supports the decision to establish a dedicated centre at the Mersey for uncomplicated elective surgical procedures and the enhanced role for the Mersey for the provision of sub-acute health services for patients in the North West of the state. A/Professor Tim Greenaway said the AMA supported the White Paper’s principle that complex surgeries should be done in centres where there is sufficient volume and expertise to ensure patient safety and well-being.

“It is important that patients requiring complex surgery are treated in hospitals by doctors who are highly experienced in these surgeries and who have access to the correct equipment, have experienced teams supporting them, and the ability to provide the best possible post-operative care,” he said. “For this to work the efficient transport of patients to and between hospitals is critical and it is pleasing to see that emphasis has been given to this in the White Paper.”

The AMA also supports the decision to re-configure maternity services in the North West by providing a single level 4 service in Burnie. It also notes the Government’s commitment to improvements in the use of telehealth to provide better access for patients to specialist services.