Locum bill for state’s hospitals tipped to surpass $27 million

LOCUM medical staff costs are forecast to increase to $27.75 million statewide for 2016-17, a State Budget estimates hearing has heard.

Health Minister Michael Ferguson during the budget estimates hearing. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE

LOCUM medical staff costs are forecast to increase to $27.75 million statewide for 2016-17, a State Budget estimates hearing has heard.

The cost of locums in 2015-16 was $23.7 million, up from $15.4 million in 2014-15.

The greatest amount spent continued to be in the North-West, with $13.1 million spent in the 12 months to the end of March this year.

Health Minister Michael Ferguson said this was a longstanding issue and reasons for the increases were many. They included covering vacancies in the Launceston General Hospital emergency department and long-term vacancies in the North-West, where recruitment for permanent staff had been unsuccessful.

He said the new 10-year federal funding deal for the Mersey Hospital at Latrobe should give a sense of comfort and security for staff in the region.

On Sunday, a code yellow, which denotes a major internal failure, was put in place at the Royal Hobart Hospital after a week of high demand in the emergency department.

MORE: CODE YELLOW ISSUED AMID HIGH DEMAND

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The estimates committee heard that on the Monday before the code yellow being called, there were 182 presentations at the ED that day, peaking between 4.30-5pm with 75 people at one time.

Opposition Leader Rebecca White asked why the code yellow was not called on that day instead of six days later. Mr Ferguson said the hospital’s clinical services director, Wendy Rowell, had already outlined beds were at capacity at the time.

Ms White asked Mr Ferguson if 75 people in the emergency department at one time was a record for the hospital.

“I’m not sure it’s possible to find this out — it may or may not be correct,” Mr Ferguson said.

“I don’t see why that would be a sensible use of busy people’s time [to source the figure].”

It was also revealed the remaining 10 of 27 extra hospital beds announced in late February had opened on Monday.

The support package, which has been rolled out piece by piece since the announcement, included two intensive care unit beds at the Royal Hobart Hospital, 10 beds at the Roy Fagan Centre in Lenah Valley for elderly patients with dementia and psychogeriatric conditions, seven at New Norfolk District Hospital for subacute patients and eight beds at the Hobart Private Hospital.

Mr Ferguson said the 10 beds at the Roy Fagan were in use from Monday.

A new team was also announced on Tuesday that will oversee the opening of 106 hospital beds across the state announced in the Budget last month.

The make-up of the team would be announced in coming days, Mr Ferguson said.