Media releases
10 July 2008
No PETS Allowed
The AMA in Tasmania is concerned by the decision of the Health Minster to halt the imminent installation of the PET scanner into the Hobart Private Hospital, without assurances that patients will not be put at risk or inconvenienced and that they retain the support of the technologists and nuclear medicine physicians that will be needed in the future.
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25 June 2008
Nurse Practitioner (NP) Implementation In Tasmania
At the request of the Branch Council of AMA Tasmania a meeting was held on Friday 20th June, with Fiona Stoker (Chief Nurse) and David Roberts (Secretary) from the DHHS to discuss the implementation of Nurse Practitioners into Tasmania.
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14 February 2008
Trust
Professor Haydn Walters, President of AMA Tasmania, said "This year AMA Tasmania has made a number of health budget submissions to the Tasmanian Government. Our submissions are with treasury. Urgent health reforms are locked in a fifteen year plan and if the new Royal Hobart Hospital is planned in alignment with those, it will take too long, if it is built at all. Today the AMA calls on the Tasmanian Government to establish an Infrastructure Trust in the next budget to confirm its pledge on the RHH construction."
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Better Health for Men
AMA Tasmania recommends one hundred thousand per year over four years for a new better health for men awareness campaign.
Men die five years earlier than women. Men suffer a greater burden of disease. Men are more likely to be afflicted by early onset health conditions. And most of the health problems encountered by men are modifiable through early intervention.
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Fluoridation
AMA Tasmania recommends that the Tasmanian Government provide fluoridated water to every Tasmanian - minimal cost over three years.
AMA Tasmania has supported the Government's long term approach to improving fluoridation access to 85% OF Tasmanians and now asks for has 100% access to fluoridated water by 2010. With the acceptance of new water authorities it is proposed that the DHHS fund 100% fluoridation.
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Infrastructure
AMA Tasmania recommends that the Tasmanian Government address the capital needs of Tasmanian public hospital system by investing half of future surpluses in a new Hospital Infrastructure Fund PLUS $200M from the sale of the Hobart Airport.
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19 December 2007
Boil Water Alerts
Professor Haydn Walters, President of AMA Tasmania calls on Southern Councils to give their citizens a Christmas present by promising next week to undertake water supply works to remove boiled water alerts by this time next year.
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12 December 2007
It's a Tax, Stupid
Professor Haydn Walters, President of AMA Tasmania, said "AMA Tasmania believes that ambulance services are an essential service whose development and improvement is vital for the State's healthy future. They must be accessible to all members of the community regardless of an individual user's ability to pay."
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2 November 2007
Public Hospital Scorecard
The AMA national scorecard of public hospital performance released last week emphasised the under-funding of our hospitals by the Howard government and the excessive cut back on beds over recent years. The public hospital system has been put under intense pressure.
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10 October 2007
AMA Comment on PM's Announcements
AMA Tasmania welcomes additional Federal funding for Tasmania's cash strapped public hospital system but condemns the Tasmanian State Health Department for creating the environment where the Federal Government, in response to rural and regional community insecurity, has felt the need to further intervene in the Tasmanian Health System.
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04 October 2007
Mill Decision
The Tasmanian Branch of the Australian Medical Association is making a final comment on the Tamar Valley Pulp Mill.
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30 August 2007
Mill Unacceptable
The Tasmanian Branch of the Australian Medical Association is unable to support the construction of the proposed Tamar Valley Pulp Mill which is being debated in State Parliament this week.
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16 August 2007
The Mersey Hospital - Back to the Future
It is also an imperative that Minister Giddings, backed by the Tasmanian Government, moves forward with urgency to develop plans for all the other outcomes from the Health Services Plan, even if it is forced to put change in the North West "on hold". Far, far too much is now at stake.
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23 July 2007
Black armbands at the Mersey
AMA Tasmania has just surveyed members in the NW of Tasmania to gauge their opinions on the impact of imposed changes to the hospitals in the NW (Burnie and Mersey). The NW survey highlights acute problems related to the lack of leadership with no onsite CEO, lack of consultation and communication plus the loss of clinical leadership within the Mersey. Doctors reported that the changes were announced and implemented precipitately, without consultation, and morale has fallen to the point where many are considering leaving.
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11 July 2007
Water unfit to drink
Professor Haydn Walters, President of AMA Tasmania said "Drinking water on boil alert and lack of sewerage services is a growing public health issue. In Swansea residents are on water boil alert and are being asked by their ratepayers association to sign a petition protesting against the quality of the town's water."
AMA Tasmania is very concerned that 23 Tasmanian water supply systems are on water boil alert and also that 15,000 properties are not on sewerage. Water quality, reliable supply and sewerage vary throughout Tasmania and are public health issues to be resolved.
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July 2007
Health issues unresolved - still not supported
AMA Tasmania advised in a position statement on 25th September 2006 that it would not support the proposed Tamar Valley pulp mill due to concerns over adverse health impacts.
Professor Walters, President of AMA Tasmania said, "AMA Tasmania is the only independent organization that addresses key public health issues to constantly try and improve the health of the Tasmanian community. The AMA will constantly strive to be an honest broker and give the Tasmanian community unbiased objective information and opinion on such issues.
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28 April 2007
AMA Tasmania elects new president
AMA Tasmania has elected Professor Haydn Walters as the President of AMA Tasmania for 2007/8.
Professor Walters was until today the Chairman of the Southern Division of AMA Tasmania. In that position he has made public comment on problems besetting the Royal Hobart Hospital, called for a new hospital and the need for statewide planning for medical services.
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March 2007
Health issues untouched - pulp mill still not supported
AMA Tasmania advised in a position statement on 25th September 2006 that it would not support the proposed Tamar Valley pulp mill due to serious health omissions and gaps in the integrated impact statement. AMA Tasmania has supported the independent RPDC assessment process to publicly attend to and resolve our identified omissions and gaps. The health related gaps identified by AMA Tasmania in September have not been answered. Any expedient compromise on health standards is completely unacceptable.
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6 February 2007
Clinical Services Plan Issue Paper
AMA Tasmania welcomes today's release of the Clinical Services Plan Issue Paper. "Dr Heather Wellington is to be publically applauded for raising a practical collection of issues that may well lead to substantial reform of the clinical services in Tasmania." Dr Aizen said.
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19 January 2007
Health Blow out
The report in today's Mercury newspaper validates AMA Tasmania's call for the State Government's Department of Health and Human Services to undergo a complete shake up and develop a Statewide Plan for Health Services in Tasmania as a matter of urgency.