The Bubble in Launceston bursting at the seams promised funds
The Bubble is a much loved women’s health clinic in Launceston, but it's struggling to meet the demand of Tasmanian women. How funding pledge could help them do more.
Politics
Don't miss out on the headlines from Politics. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Expanding women’s health in the North of Tasmania is getting women the care they need from “cradle to grave”, says women’s health GP, Dr Natasha Vavrek.
Minister for Women Jo Palmer has broken taboos by being open about her experience with perimenopause and menopause.
During the announcement for funds for women’s health specialist clinic, The Bubble Launceston, Ms Palmer said the facility was a lifesaver for her own health journey.
“I walked through the door of The Bubble about a year ago, having found that my body felt like a complete stranger to the person who I thought I was,” she said.
“I’ve had four babies, I thought I had got through the trials and tribulations of being a woman and then I find myself with the beginning symptoms of menopause and it‘s a really difficult time for women.”
Ms Palmer said not only was The Bubble a safe space, but had helped make women’s health issues, “a normal way of life.”
“This is just part of life,” Ms Palmer said.
“They’ve taken away the stigma and some of the embarrassment that women can feel in that specific women’s health space.”
A re-elected Liberal Government would invest $3.8 million to The Bubble Launceston to help expand.
The Bubble Launceston was founded by Dr Natasha Vavrek who said the funding will help expand services in the north for a much needed bigger facility.
“At the moment we have the capacity to expand not only consultations with doctors but also specialists like gynaecologists, as well as with our Allied Health team,” she said.
“That means more mental health capabilities as well.”
The Bubble opened just four years ago and has also expanded to the south and helped tens of thousands of people.
Dr Vavrek said the demand for The Bubble, especially with the closure of private maternity facilities.
“It’s always better to fund primary health care in order to keep people out of the hospital system,” she said.
“Here in Northern Tasmania, we only have two private obstetricians which puts a huge demand on the public system.
“Because of that we have a huge number of patients coming to our care, and so our GP antenatal Services have blown out.”
Dr Vavrek said the staff had to work in shifts in order to access one of just four rooms in the current building and even she had to cut down her hours in order to free up rooms.
Premier Jeremy Rockliff said helping The Bubble expand meant more women and girls were getting access to healthcare.
“This is a place that can deliver those specialists and essential medical services to women, but it is a welcoming environment where women are heard and feel supported,” he said.
“Our plan is to deliver better health services for all Tasmanians but also ensuring women who need services, wherever they are in Tasmania have access to those services.”
Labor targets housing red tape
Tasmanian Labor wants to get more houses built faster with party leader Dean Winter saying there were too many hurdles slowing down housing.
Addressing media on Sunday, Mr Winter said Tasmania was being held back by red tape.
“What we’ve seen over the course over the past 11 years is that the time it takes to get a home planned and built increased by 50 percent,” he said.
“What we’ve seen recently is some of the lowest numbers of home approvals and builds in Tasmanian history.”
According to the Housing Industry Association’s latest Housing Scorecard from May, Tasmania was the bottom for building houses.
Mr Winter said it would have “major changes” to planning.
“We want to make sure Tasmania is place where you can build a home,” he said,
“I don’t want to see young families having to spend tens of thousands of dollars on consultants to do what’s pretty basic.
“I want you to be able to build a two or three-bedroom home without triggering discretions that take a year to get through a local council.”
He said they would work with planners and developers to remove discretions that “don’t make any sense.”
Come clean on stadium stance, Greens urge Labor
Rosalie Woodruff has called on Dean Winter to clarify Labor’s position on the Hobart stadium after accusing Mr Winter of wavering on a commitment to support fast-tracked legislation.
Libs ‘getting on with job’ with latest health pledge
The Liberal Party has targeted women’s health on the campaign trail with party leader Jeremy Rockliff promising four new BreastScreen clinics. Here’s where they would go.