AMA launches scathing attack on Tasmania’s health system

TASMANIA’S peak medical body has launched a scathing and “unprecedented” attack on the state’s health system, calling for the removal of its top bureaucrat.

Tasmanian Health Service chief executive David Alcorn and Health Minister Michael Ferguson. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

TASMANIA’S peak medical body has launched a scathing and “unprecedented” attack on the state’s health system, calling for the removal of its top bureaucrat.

Just days out from the Hodgman Government’s Budget, the Australian Medical Association Tasmania has thrown a major spanner in the works declaring “no confidence” in the Tasmania Health Service’s chief executive David Alcorn.

The AMA has long raised concerns about the system but the tipping point was said to be the release of hospital data indicating poor patient outcomes and a damning Coroner’s report.

The Government’s reply was swift and personal, backing Dr Alcorn and claiming AMA Tasmania president Stuart Day had wanted to reduce beds and staff from northern hospitals, something he denied.

Dr Day said the AMA was receiving an unprecedented number of serious complaints from staff based in hospitals regarding Dr Alcorn and his executive management team.

“Unfortunately, the THS under its current CEO and centralised senior management is plagued by governance dysfunction, deteriorating patient safety indicators, worsening hospital overcrowding and a toxic bureaucratic culture that is placing the welfare of patients and staff at risk,” he said.

“The THS was created in July 2015 with the aim of improving public hospital service delivery, quality and patient safety, but this has clearly not been the case.”

The AMA are not calling for a return to a health system split into North, South and North-West but said these regions needed greater autonomy to run day-to-day operations.

Meanwhile, a scaled-down central THS would focus on “broad policy, statewide strategic planning and compliance”.

But Health Minister Michael Ferguson issued a statement reiterating “every confidence” in Dr Alcorn and describing the AMA’s comments as “incredibly disappointing”.

Mr Ferguson said the AMA knew he was “actively addressing their concerns around patient access”.

“This includes making it very clear that next week’s State Budget will even further address the issue of beds and staffing, particularly at the Royal Hobart Hospital,” he said.

“I suggest that it is most appropriate that these personnel issues should be worked through in a professional and constructive way, not personality politics via the media.”

Mr Ferguson pointed to “record health funding” and the opening of 50 new beds as Government achievements.

He also released correspondence with the AMA that implied Dr Day was seeking to reduce resources at hospitals outside Hobart.

“We continue to strongly disagree on the AMA’s claims of over-servicing in the North and North-West,” he said.

“We will not be reducing beds or staff in northern hospitals because this would mean reducing access to health care in the community.”

Dr Day told the Sunday Tasmanian this “seemed to be a misunderstanding” as it was not the AMA’s position.

The Opposition said the AMA’s attack was “unprecedented” and called for the Health Minister to resign.

“The minister is ultimately in charge of governance across the health system. The buck stops with him,” Labor’s health spokeswoman Michelle O’Byrne said.

“Michael Ferguson has lost the trust and confidence of doctors. He has no choice but to resign.”

Last week a coronial report found the death of a patient after she was sent home by the RHH had been preventable.

Dr Day said nothing had changed since the death occurred.