Ongoing failings by THS Executive and its Governing Council come to light
The AMA today highlighted serious and ongoing problems resulting from the failing Tasmanian Health Service (THS) governance reforms led by the central THS Executive and the Governing Council. Despite clear instruction by the Health Minister to rebuild leadership at Tasmania’s major hospitals over six months ago, vacancies, acting positions and locum use in key hospital leadership positions continue.
AMA Tasmania President Dr Stuart Day said recruitment for the head of Royal Hobart Hospital (RHH Executive Director of Operations) has stalled with no substantive appointment made,” Dr Day said.
“As well as this, the chief doctor role at the RHH (RHH Executive Director of Medical Services) remains unadvertised and filled by rotating locum doctors and senior RHH nursing directors remain on short six month contracts.
“Similar and debilitating multi-level leadership uncertainty exists in other Tasmanian hospitals. “Despite ongoing efforts by hospital senior staff to alert the THS Executive to the operational and safety concerns arising from senior staff instability and vacancies at their hospitals, no decisive or timely action from the Launceston based central THS Executive and its Governing Council has resulted.” The AMA calls on the Chair of the THS Governing Council (THS Board) Mr John Ramsay to step up and take control of his THS CEO and THS Executive, to end the leadership uncertainty in Tasmania’s major hospitals and to ensure the THS delivers on the Health Minister’s commitment to reconstitute key leadership positions in Tasmania’s major public hospitals. “The AMA expects nothing more from the THS Board and its Chairman than for them to do their job - to take responsibility for managing its THS CEO and the ongoing problems resulting from the failing THS governance restructure” Dr Day said.