AMA Tasmania's Budget Submission to the State Government for 2011
19th November 2010: The AMA has pleasure in lodging this Budget Submission covering capital and recurrent expenditure in the heath sectors. These issues have been raised by a wide cross section of members from across the state and in many different clinical areas. Click here for a full copy. In summary:
Capital expenditure
1. Prioritise Capital Works expenditure over purchases.
2. Secure dementia unit at the RHH
3. RHH - Conversion of the current administration into additional wards for 60 beds and relocating administration offices.
4. Build an additional 400 car parking spaces on site - RHH
5. 100% increase in anesthetic area - RHH
6. Information Technology including a flexible live electronic discharge access
Recurrent Expenditure
1. 150 extra beds in public hospitals across the state in order that the 85% occupancy rates recommended by the AMA can be achieved.
2. Cancer Services for Tasmania.
3. Exclusive on Call Arrangements for Visiting Surgeons.
4. Provide additional training for General Physicians and General Surgeons.
5. Allow movement of hospital based staff physicians into the private hospitals.
6. Accrual based Capital Replacement Budgets.
7. Launceston General Hospital
Improving care for patients with chronic and complex care needs.
The AMA recognises the need for more efficient arrangements to support the provision of well-coordinated multidisciplinary care to patients with chronic and complex disease. If access to coordinated multidisciplinary care is improved then patients will benefit, the number of avoidable hospital admissions can be reduced, and long-term savings to the health system will be generated. In considering this issue, it is important to recognise that current MBS arrangements are meeting the needs of most patients. The Government's own draft Primary Care Strategy said in this regard that supported by the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS), most Australians have good access to affordable services provided through general practice, have a choice of provider, and have been supported in their access to many specialist and diagnostic services. See the attached plan for all details.
Chronic Disease Plan (April 2010) - pdf file
Waiting times for Elective Surgery
The AMA calls for better waiting time for elective surgery. Tasmania continues to lag the rest of the country in waiting times for elective surgery. The number of category 2 patients seen within the recommended time of 90 days for elective surgery has continued to decline. Only 49 per cent of category 2 patients on elective surgery waiting lists were seen within the recommended time of 90 days.
Statement click here. 17th March 2010 (State Election)
Public Hospital Reform
Tasmanian patients do not necessarily get best value for the money spent on the State hospital systemand have poorer access to hospital and medical services than other Australians. There is clearly a need for better planning with more medical input and less bureaucracy. Every dollar spent on unnecessary bureaucracy is a dollar that is not available for patient care. In other words, more beds not desks.
Submission (October 2008) - pdf file
Royal Hobart Hospital - Funding and Performance
Royal Hobart Hospital - Funding and Performance (November 2005)
Substitution for Doctors Hobart
Substitution for Doctors (November 2005)
Proposed pulp mill
Submission
Submission from the Tasmanian Branch of the Australian Medical Association
Health Workforce Impact Statements
The Tasmanian Government introduced 'Better Hospitals Program one and two' address significant deficiencies in the Hospital system in Tasmania. deficiencies are in the number and location of specialist doctors as well as the the hospital infrastructure. Previous Government policy decisions were taken for the wrong reasons and without sufficient regard to the health needs of Tasmania.
Read more about Health Workforce Impact Statements and AMA Tasmania's position on this issue.
Pulp Mill Assessment Bill 2007
'AMA Tasmania is an organisation representing 500 medical practitioners in Tasmania. We are concerned about improving the health of Tasmanians and have a track record of influencing legislation to achieve that end. For example; seat belt legislation, air pollution in the Tamar Valley, agricultural chemical pollution in drinking water, banning of smoking in pubs and clubs and most recently the banning of smoking in cars where children are present.'
Read Dr Michael Aizen's full brief to the members of the Upper House (pdf file)
Position Statement – Proposed Tamar Valley Pulp Mill
The Tasmanian Branch of the AMA has examined the (draft) Gunns' Integrated Impact Statement and in summary concludes: AMA Tasmania has significant concerns about the potential for adverse health effects resulting from the proposed Pulp Mill.
Health Workforce Impact Statements
The AMA notes that it is common practice for Government decisions to require an environmental impact statement. The AMA calls for all Government decisions on health to require a health workforce impact statement.
Health Workforce Impact Statements
Policy's and Position Statements
AMA Tasmania is the State's peak health lobby group advocating on a number of health issues on behalf of our members and Tasmanian patients. At a State and Federal level, the AMA provides information and commentary to the media and formulates policy, and position statements on a number of key public health issues.
AMA Position statements (available at the AMA website http://www.ama.com.au/policy/positionstatements):