All Media Enquiries
Journalists should contact the CEO Tony Steven in the first instance. 03 6223 2047 or 0409 219 368. Background information should be sent to ceo@amatas.com.au
Depending on the issue being addressed the relevant member Doctor will then respond.
Department of Health and Human Services Media Releases and Articles. Click here.
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Draft Abortion Legislation Unacceptable even in its Second Draft
15th April 2013: Today Dr. John Davis, President of AMA Tasmania, stated “politicians will be given a conscience vote on abortion legislation; however this legislation denies the same consideration of conscientious objection to doctors as well as other workers who are at the coalface.”
Dr. Davis continued “although the monetary penalty has been removed for medical practitioners (but not others providing counselling and advice), doctors are still required under the terms of this legislation to refer a patient for an abortion whether or not they have a conscientious objection. This contravenes the AMA’s code of ethics and those of the Medical Board of Australia which licenses all doctors in the country.”
“This provision is totally unacceptable and must be removed” said Dr. Davis.
Click here for a copy of the full media release.
Nurse cuts revealed
29th May 2012: Dr. John Davis, President of the AMA in Tasmania restated today “the continuing cuts from front line services in health are affecting too many patients in our state.” 250 nurses being cut at a time when demand is highest is a difficult situation to accept. These measures are a short sighted way to look at the problem, the longer we make people wait the sicker they get and the more expensive they become the heal. Click here
What the State Budget needs to do for Health
14th May 2012: President of the AMA in Tasmania Dr. John Davis released a list of points that need to be covered in the State Budget this Thursday. Click here
Health sidelined in Federal Budget
9th May 2012: Dr. John Davis President of the AMA in Tasmania commented today on last night’s budget. “Although nationally there has been some sheltering of health from Federal budget cuts, the effect on the State Government will be dire indeed. “It is imperative that the State Government shields health from cuts in its own budget next week despite the $515 million loss in GST revenue and Commonwealth Government Grants”, Dr. Davis said. Nationally l we welcome the new funding for aged care, bowel cancer screening, dental services, health infrastructure, and electronic health initiatives, but we are dismayed at the loss of funding for Lead Clinicians Group, he said. Click here
Lead Clinicians Group axed in Budget
9th May 2012: Clinical guidance is a must for the Tasmanian Health Sector, without it we will continue to see political interference in major health decisions that lack real medical knowledge and input and will put Tasmanian lives at risk.
Dr. John Davis President of the AMA in Tasmania said today “the loss of Federal Funding for the Lead Clinicians Group puts future planning and present day operations in the dark”. “Clinicians must be able to have major input into the running of health care as without it people will suffer and will live with a less than optimum health service”. Click here
THO South Head appointed before the Board.
30th March 2012: Dr. John Davis President of the AMA in Tasmania said today that the appointment of the CEO of the Royal Hobart Hospital for a five year contract before the Board she will serve was constituted is very unusual. The Minister Michelle O'Byrne sited stability and continuity as reasons for Ms. Holden's lengthy tenure but the new THO South Board has yet to be appointed and according to the Examiner Newspaper won't have to opportunity to ratify the position. The question arises how much authority will these new board have and will the Government continue to intervene? For the complete media release click here.
Overloaded RHH, not good enough!
20th February 2012: The incident at the Royal Hobart Hospital over the weekend show just how close to the bone the Health Department is operation at the moment. Dr. John Davis President of the AMA in Tasmania said in response today, "Scrambling to open more bed in an ad-hoc way, bringing in more staff and asking staff to work excessive hours is unsafe."
The AMA policy for hospital occupancy is 85% leaving 15% of beds to remain operative in case of emergencies like this. Summer time is meant to be the quiet season for hospitals and this sends a very worrying message about the hospital capability to cope in the winter and the flu season. Budget cuts, health reform and hospital redevelopment are all putting undue pressure on the Royal Hobart Hospital, and although staff are to be congratulated they should have never been placed in this position. For the complete media release click here.
Despite Cuts, budget still not balanced - where to from here?
16 February 2012: This was meant to be the easy year, 2011/12 was the year the first $100 million dollars was to be cut from Health but the Department has been unable to reach these targets. At a TCCI luncheon today the Premier and Treasurer Lara Giddings restated that the DHHS has had an over run on financial targets, set at the last budget, of $25 million in the current 2011/12 year. Where does that leave the health system? Dr. John Davis President of the AMA in Tasmania said today, "The hard years will be next year and the year after as the DHHS and soon to be established THO's (Tasmanian Health Organisations) look to find a further $50 million from their operations, in each year". "I think it's time to admit that Tasmania just does not have the where with all to fund heath in this state. It's time to consider single source funding" he said. For the complete media release click here.
New Ministry and Structure will help!
12 December 2011: Dr. John Davis, President of the AMA in Tasmania, commented today on the Review of Governance Arrangements for the Department of Health and Human Services paper. Dr. Davis said, "This paper confirms our statements of the past where we have criticised the top heavy nature of the DHHS".
"A smaller and more efficient Ministry is welcomed however the proof of efficiency gains will remain in the implementation of these recommendations", he said. These changes are in line with the National Health Reforms and the introduction of Activity Based funding. Also, data management and standardization will be welcomed and increase efficiencies in the sector. Click here for the full release.
Wilkie tricked so that Labor gets Government.
5th December 2011: Last year after the Federal Election Andrew Wilkie had been elected as the new member for Denison and found himself in a position where his support would determine who formed Government and who became Prime Minister.
Mr Wilkie negotiated funds for the redevelopment of Royal Hobart Hospital selecting the ALP's $340 million over the $1 billion offered by the opposition. But he was tricked. The funds Mr Wilkie negotiated were not new additional money but simply "early" access to our already due GST entitlement! The funds Mr Wilkie achieved, in order for Ms Gillard to become Prime Minister, were nothing more than an advance on our "pocket money" from Canberra. Premier Lara Giddings agrees, in Parliament last month she said, "the reality is, it is not additional, it is just a matter of when we get the funding".
At the time these funds were allocated there was talk of a submission having to be lodged and approval gained however there was never any mention that the money was to come from Tasmania's own future GST revenue. Mr Wilkie was tricked; the Tasmanian government were complicit (they signed up) and the Prime Minister took power by default.
Click here for the full media release.
Scrap the THO Bill and start again.
24th November 2011: President of AMA Tasmania Dr. John Davis and Chairman Dr. Chris Middleton met with members of the Legislative Council in committee yesterday to provide a briefing on the AMA's views on the Tasmanian Health Organizations Bill due to be debated in the Upper House.
"Even as this bill goes through the Parliament, the time for this legislation has passed", Dr. Davis said, "Originally designed under the Rudd Health Reforms the THO Bill was suited for local administration under a single funder. But that is not what we have. "This Bill cements the silo mentality into our health system. It should be rejected", he said. For the full media release click here.
Elective surgery cuts unacceptable
4th October 2011: Cuts announced today of $21.5 million to elective surgery are totally unacceptable, this is a direct impact on patient care and will consign Tasmanians to even longer waiting
lists. Dr. John Davis, President of the AMA Tasmania has condemned these measures as cruel and unwarranted. If the Government had not wasted so much money during the GST good times these cuts would not have to have happened.
Click here for the complete release.
Shame Premier Shame - Front Line Services to be hit!
5th Aug 2011: Following the AMA and ANF's announcement yesterday the Premier has acknowledged frontline services in health will be reduced. The Health Minister has also confirmed she hasn't been upfront with all the Tasmanian Community regarding the totality of the cuts to the health sector.
"The public will bare the brunt of this government's inability to manage the purse strings", said Dr. John Davis President of the AMA. Click here for the complete release.
Health Budget Cuts in the Wrong Places
20th July 2011: Budget cuts to front line services in operational sites around the state is unacceptable while administration goes relatively untouched.
Dr. John Davis, President of the AMA in Tasmania said this afternoon that cutting from the operational arms of health like the Royal Hobart Hospital, the Launceston General Hospital the NW Regional Hospital and primary care while DHHS secretariat staff are seemingly unaffected shows the Government has lost the plot when it comes to real reform. Click here for full media release.
Do not look for any more cuts in Health!
5th July 2011: AMA Tasmania, President Dr. John Davis expressed concern this morning with the Premiers admission that the back flip on Education cuts was a learning experience, because anymore budget lessons, this time in health, would be intolerable.
"We need an absolute assurance that in light of the need to find even more savings for the state coffers, that front line services in health remain 100% secure", said Dr. Davis. Click here for the full article.
State Budget 2011
16 June 2011: "The big question from today's State Budget is, where is the Government going to find $350 million to cut from Health?" asked the President of AMA Tasmania Dr. John Davis following the budget handed down this afternoon in Parliament by the Treasurer Lara Giddings. Click here.
AMA supports 3 LHN's
15 June 2011: AMA Tasmania President, Dr. John Davis welcomed Minister O'Byrne's reiteration today that there will be three Local Hospital Networks in Tasmania. This supports the AMA position as outlined last year. Click here.
Federal Budget 2011
AMA Tasmania President Dr. John Davis said today that the Federal Budget changes will take the family doctor out of the coordinating care role for people with mental health issues.
This budget takes funding from the GP and gives to Mental Health directly but this is not the right way of deliver because the family doctor should be the one coordination patient care.
Devaluing the role of family doctors is a backward step that will seriously fragment medical and mental health care for those people who need it in the community.
Dr. Davis said "Family doctors are the preferred entry point for mental health care but the Government is now making it harder for people to get access to the care they need and reducing the amount of time that patients can spend with their GP". For full release click here.
New AMA President
At the AMA Annual General Meeting this weekend held at Cascade Visitors Centre South Hobart Dr. John Davis was elected the new Branch President for 2011/12.
Dr. Davis previously served as President from 2000 to 2003. A General Practitioner in Rosny, Hobart Dr. Davis accepted the position at a meeting of the AMA which featured two significant forums on Local Hospital Networks and Medicare Locals, both part of the Federal Governments health reform agenda. For full release click here.
State Government Health Cuts
21st April 2011: AMA Tasmania President, Dr. Michael Aizen, said today that the AMA supports a reduction in State Government bureaucracy but will not accept any reduction in front line services. The AMA is concerned with the Ministers statement yesterday stating that front line services are at risk from budget cuts. Front line services should not bear the brunt of funding restrictions. Instead the Government should target the bloated bureaucracy located outside our public hospitals. Tasmania already has the worst waiting list times for elective surgery in the nation, cuts to front line services will only make these waiting times longer, said Dr. Aizen. Click here for the media release.
Research Cuts are Detrimental
20th April 2011: The AMA in Tasmania supports the call by Australian Medical Students Association President Robert Marshall for the Government to abandon rumoured budget cuts to the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). Dr. Michael Aizen also expressed concerns about the massive effect these proposed cuts would have in the future. "Not only do these grants provide employment and economic assistance to Tasmania in the present they save lives in the future." Said Dr. Aizen. Click here for the media release.
Medicare Locals - AMA proposes a better model.
24th Mar 2011: The AMA today released its Position Statement on Medicare Locals and urged the Government to adopt the AMA recommendations to establish better primary health care organisations (PHCOs) than the currently proposed Medicare Locals model. AMA Tasmania President, Dr Michael Aizen, said today that "the main function of Medicare Locals must be to better support the role of the GP in delivering services to patients".
"GPs are the highest trained practitioners in the primary health care setting and have a key role in the coordination and management of care for patients," Dr Aizen said. "Across Australia they provide 120 million services to patients each year. "Medicare Locals could be useful to GPs by supporting them in carrying out their role and assisting them in accessing allied health services in the community.
Click here for the complete media release.
AMA Opposes Medicare Locals
20th March 2011: AMA Tasmania opposes the establishment of Medicare Locals and calls on the Gillard Government to defer the establishment of any primary health care governance organisations until there has been genuine consultation with the medical profession.
This is in line with the Federal AMA resolution on primary health care organisations of 18 March 2011. The resolution was necessary because of the recent comments by Prime Minister Gillard that these organisations would have a fundholding role, a significant departure from the health care reforms announced by former Prime Minister Rudd. Click here for full release.
Medicare Locals: Guideline number one - GPs must remain the coordinators of care.
23rd Feb 2011: AMA Tasmania President, Dr. Michael Aizen, said today that Medicare Locals could enhance primary care and benefit patients if they are established according to the core guideline that GP's must remain the coordinators of patient care.
"Medicare Locals will only work to improve primary care if their main purpose is to support the central role of GP's in caring for patients," Dr. Aizen said.
"This means that GP's must be the coordinators of patient care, they must be strongly represented on the Medicare Local Boards, and there must be an absolute minimum of bureaucracy and red tape". he said. Click here for the full release.
New Doctors start Today
10th Jan 2011: A new generation of doctors today commenced work as interns in public hospitals across Tasmania. AMA Tasmania President Dr Michael Aizen congratulated the 65 new doctors on reaching this important milestone in their training. "These fine young men and women will be the backbone of the State's hospital system over the coming decades," Dr Aizen said. Click here for the full media release.
Safe Christmas Campaign
21st December 2010: Road Safety Message. Click here.
28th December 2010:
31st December 2010:
4th January 2011:
Local Hospital Networks in Tasmania
8th December 2010: The Australian Medical Association, Tasmania (AMA Tasmania) calls on the State Health Minister and Cabinet to create three Local Hospital Networks for Tasmania. The successful experiment of creating three Area Health Services should encourage Minister O'Byrne and Cabinet to go one step further in completely devolving decision making as close as possible to where patient care is delivered. Click here for the full media release.
Tasmanian Public Hospitals Continue to Struggle to Treat Patients
18th November 2010: The Australian Medical Association (AMA) released its annual Public Hospital Report Card today. The most significant finding was that, despite significant extra Commonwealth funding, there has been little improvement in hospital capacity and performance in Tasmania. Dr. Michael Aizen, President of AMA Tasmania, said "Tasmanians waited far longer than other Australians for elective surgery with 13.1% waiting more than one year compared with the national percentage of 2.9. Another indicator of treatment, overnight separations (non day surgery patients) per 1,000 population, was 87.1 well below the national figure of 110.3." Click here.
Longer Term Approach Required
29th September 2010: A medical training summit, hosted by the Australian Medical Association today, was told that there is no coordination between universities, public hospitals and specialist medical colleges in the training of newly graduated doctors. Given the growing demand for hospital and medical services it is important that State Governments and Specialist Medical Colleges work together to increase the number of intern, pre-specialty and specialist training positions to take advantage of the rapidly increasing number of medical graduates.
Click here for the full release.
Cancer Services - a Win for the North West
22nd September 2010: AMA Tasmania welcomes the decision by the Hon. Michelle O'Byrne, Minister for Health, to fund two new medical oncologists for the North West and to investigate the provision oncology services in the home. Click here for the full release.
Therapeudic Goods Administration warns on use of Diclofenac and Ibuerofen.
14th September 2010: AMA supports the call of the Therapeudic Goods Administration for caution in over the counter use of Diclofenac and Ibuerofen. Low dose short term use is not associated with any significant cardiovascular or cerebrovascular side effects. AMA Tasmania urges individuals to use the lowest effective dose over the shortest possible time. Click here for the full release.
Gillard Government to Continue!
7th September 2010: AMA Tasmania congratulates the Gillard Government on it re-election and looks forward to working it over the next three years. In particular the AMA looks forward to working with the State and Federal Governments in quickly and comprehensively setting up the new Local Hospital Networks. Click here for the full release.
Government Diabetes Care Plan Threatens Medicare
10th August 2010: Government Diabetes Care Plan Threatens Medicare Voters in the forthcoming election should be made aware of the Gillard Government's proposed diabetes care plan. If implemented, patients participating in this plan will be excluded from access to Medicare. Dr. Michael Aizen, President of AMA Tasmania, said that, "Medicare a great institution in Australian health care will be threatened if this diabetes care plan is implemented".
Click here for the full Media Release.
Click here for the Chronic Disease Plan.
Linear Accelerator North West Regional Hospital
7th August 2010: The election promise by the Opposition Leader The Hon. Tony Abbott made on 6 August in Devonport to fund improved cancer treatment services for the North West of the State has been cautiously welcomed by AMA Tasmania. But unfortunately, when measured against AMA criteria for closeness to patient care, safety, and sustainability, the establishment of a linear accelerator service in Burnie fails the last two. Linear Accelerators, used to treat certain cancers, require a high patient throughput, minimum numbers of Radiation Oncologists, scientists and allied health staff and significant recurrent funding. Current authoritative information does not justify a stand-alone unit in Burnie.
Click here for the full Media Release.
COALITION HEALTH POLICY - STRONG INITIATIVES TO STIMULATE THE HEALTH DEBATE
6th August 2010: The AMA welcomes the Coalition's health policy, which will stimulate debate and bring the health policy bidding war alive in this election campaign.
AMA President, Dr Michael Aizen, said today that the Coalition has made some strong commitments on hospital beds, support for GPs, and clinician involvement in hospital governance arrangements through community boards, all of which are consistent with AMA policy.
"The AMA has been calling for investment in health care, with a priority focus on funding more beds in public hospitals, and more support and capacity for GPs to meet the increasing demand for medical care in the community," Dr Aizen said. Click here for the full release.
Three local hospital netwoks in Tasmania
4th August 2010: The Australian Medical Association Tasmania (AMA) calls for the creation of three Local Hospital Networks (LHNs) based on the current boundaries of the three Area Health Services. The spirit of the agreement of the Council of Australian Governments may be put at risk by attempts by some State Governments and their health bureaucracies and other organizations.
Click here for the full media release.
Super Clinic threaten local GP's
29th July 2010: The Gillard Government has allocated $233m for the construction of an additional 23 Super Clinics, most of which will be built in areas already well serviced by GPs. Dr. Michael Aizen, President of AMA Tasmania, said that they should complement existing GP services, not compete with them. Click here for the full release.
Emergency Department Funding Welcomed
26th July 2010: Dr. Michael Aizen President of the AMA in Tasmania has welcomed the Government's announcement this morning in Launceston on additional funding for the training of an extra 27 specialist emergency doctors per year around the country for the next 10 years making a total of 270 over that period. Especially pleasing is the recognition that funding is required not only for the additional doctors in training but also their supervisors.
Of all the emergency departments around the country, 27 new doctors a year is only a small increase, but this is a step in the right direction. With the influx of junior doctors graduating over the next few years this will assist in relieving the pressure on placements as well.
Click here for the full Media Release from Dr Aizen.
Click here for the the Federal Presidents Release.
Junior Doctors without a Job!
22nd July 2010: Up to 20 Tasmanian final year medical students may miss out on first year training positions, next year. This would mean they will be unable to complete that year in order to become a fully accredited doctor. This flies in the face of the Tasmanian Premier's recent promise to provide training places for all Tasmanian domestic medical students.
After five to six years of training at a considerable cost to the community, some students will be either forced to leave Tasmania to pursue their careers or find work unrelated to their medical degree. Either way, Tasmanians will lose out.
Despite an ongoing request to the State Government, by both the Australian Medical Association (AMA) and the Australian Medical Students' Association (AMSA), to increase funding to cover the increased demand for intern places, no acceptable outcome has been reached. Not only will these students be unable to practise as doctors, but Tasmania as a whole will suffer because of the reduced number of doctors likely to work here.
Click here for the AMA media release.
Click here for the ASMA media release.
Family Doctors remain the backbone of the Australian Health System ....But Under Pressure
1st July 2010: The latest Australia's Health 2010 report by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) confirms yet again that GPs are the backbone of front line health care delivery in Australia, with 113 million services delivered to patients during 2008-09.
AMA Tasmania President, Dr Michael Aizen, said today that the AIHW report confirms that GPs are increasingly dealing with older patients with more complex care needs.
Click here for the full media release.
Click here for the Complex and Chronic Disease Care Plan from the AMA.
Money Wasted on Super Clinics
13th June 2010: The Federal Government has allocated $233m for the construction of an additional 23 Super Clinics, most of which will be built in areas well serviced by GPs. Dr. Michael Aizen, President of AMA Tasmania, said that they should complement existing GP services, not compete with them. AMA Tasmania calls for the reallocation of this money to add to the $117m already announced for infrastructure improvement of existing General Practices to allow for education of medical students, prevocational trainees, GP Registrars, practice nurses and allied health professionals.
Click here for the full media Release.
20th May 2010
General Practice Nurse Jobs at Risk in Tasmania
The decision by the Rudd Government to alter the format of funding of nurses currently employed in General Practices will have the perverse effect of increasing the strain on Tasmanian General Practitioners. The Rudd Government intends to withdraw all the Medicare items for services provided by a practice nurse in December 2011 and for Tasmanian General Practices replace the items with block grants of $30,000 for a fully registered nurse or $15,000 for an enrolled nurse for each full time General Practitioner. Practices with more than 5 doctors will be capped at $150,000. This will make the employment of Practice Nurses not financially viable. It will significantly increase the workload of our already hard pressed Tasmanian General Practitioners.
14th January 2010
Radiotherapy machine not feasible at NWRH.
AMA Tasmania welcomes the news that both major parties support an expansion of cancer services in North-West Tasmania. However, the establishment of a linear accelerator at the North-West Regional Hospital should not be an element of any such proposal. Click here for the full media release.
15th December 2009
RHH plumbs new depths of dysfunctionality and there is worse to come.
The Royal Hobart Hospital's status as a teaching institution is now in question with the Hospital administration's failure to ensure the accreditation of the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Unit's program for specialist training. The RHH looks like being the first ever tertiary teaching hospital in Australasia to have its training status withdrawn by Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. This is a dismal result for those doctors currently training in the specialty but that is only the tip of the iceberg. Click here for the full media release.
20th November 2009
Medical Council must have the resourses.
AMA Tasmania, once again calls upon the Tasmanian Government to ensure that the Medical Council has adequate resources at its disposal to enable a conclusion to the investigation against Dr. McGinity in the near future. Click here to read the whole release.
12th November 2009
Hand Washing Essential
Acting President of the Tasmanian Branch of the Australian Medical Association (AMA) Dr. Michael Aizen welcomed the Tasmanian Healthcare Associated Infection Surveillance Report released by the Tasmanian Government yesterday. Click here to read the whole release.
21st October 2009
Boxing
As the hype over the Launceston boxing event "Road to Rematch" reaches frenzy point, Tasmanian doctors are calling for the introduction of new laws to more strictly control boxing in the State and in particular for the banning of children taking part in any boxing or boxing related activity. Click here for the whole release!
14th October 2009
Report Card on Tasmanian Hospitals
The AMA Public Hospital Report Card was released nationally today in Sydney and shows a decline in the performance of Tasmanian Public Hospitals for the period 2007/08. Tasmanian AMA President Dr. Chris Middleton expressed concern about the statistics shown for Tasmania.
To read the media release click here, and to see the Report Card on the Federal Website click here.
24th August 2009
AMA does not support Parliamentary Inquiry into Medical registration Act
AMA Tasmania remains extremely concerned about the very difficult situation in which its longstanding member, Dr. Paul McGinity of Scottsdale, currently finds himself. Nevertheless, a Joint Select Committee Investigation is unlikely to be at all helpful and may be counter-productive. The question of how to balance public interest and safety against natural justice for an individual is a difficult one with no easy answer. The AMA appreciates that the Medical Council considered that it had to take action in the interests of public safety. Whether the action taken was justified and appropriate remains to be seen as the details of the Council's concerns have yet to be released.
Read the complete media release!
31st July 2009
AMA concurs with Minister on Attracting Doctors to State
"Tasmania needs to be able to recruit and retain a high quality medical workforce", said AMA Tasmania President Chris Middleton. "This requires doctors working full time in the state public hospitals having access to terms and conditions competitive with the Australian market.
Read the complete media release!
20th July 2009
Media Briefing: AMA response to Liberal's proposal at State Council
As a one off measure to assist those patients who have waited for much longer than is clinically justifiable, this proposal may have some merit although there are many issues and potential pitfalls which would need to be carefully considered and we would need to see all the details of the proposed scheme.
9th July 2009
AMA and ANF joint release
The Tasmanian Branches of the Australian Nursing Federation and the Australian Medical Association today both condemned the proposed lack of Tasmanian repreentation on the soon to be established National Nursing and Midwifery Board and the National Medical Board of Australia.
3rd July 2009
Tony Steven appointed CEO
The President of the AMA in Tasmania Dr Chris Middleton announced today that Tony Steven had been appointed CEO.
23rd June 2009
Specialists worst paid in Australia
AMA Tasmania released data showing full time hospital specialists in this State are by far the worst paid compared to their mainland peers. AMA Tasmania is engaged with Government due to its C2009 enterprise bargaining campaign. This week, AMA Tasmania is conducting another round of hospital meetings across the State. Members want to discuss the implications of the pay data and Government’s failure to talk seriously with us to find solutions.
10th June 2009
Hospital Waiting Times get Worse
The Tasmanian Branch of the AMA expresses concern about Tasmanian Hospital waiting times, spokesman Dr Michael Aizen outlines statistics from the annual Australian Institute for Health and Welfare Report. Click here to read the release.
6th April 2009
GP Assist
The Tasmanian Branch of the AMA calls on Federal Minister Nicola Roxon and State Minister Lara Giddings to reverse their recent decision and keep the General Practitioner after hours support GP Assist model fully operational, retaining current funding and local operating arrangements.
30 Mar 2009
Dr McGinity
Dr. Paul McGinity has been a member of the Tasmanian Branch of the Australian Medical Association for 28 years.
4 Feb 2009
Premier must go in to bat for RHH
Now is not the time for the State government to go cold on the redevelopment of the Royal Hobart Hospital.
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.
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.
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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.”
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.
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.
04 October 2007
Mill Decision
The Tasmanian Branch of the Australian Medical Association is making a final comment on the Tamar Valley Pulp Mill.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.