Tasmanian nurses and other health care professionals have launched a campaign against the cuts to the state’s health budget, handing out information cards to patients and the public, and encouraging them to contact the health minister to overturn the planned cuts.

 

The Australian Nursing Federation, which represents the state’s nurses, has not ruled out industrial action.

 

Major cuts to Tasmania's health system include:

 

  • Reconfigure the Launceston General Hospital’s Ward 4D and consolidate oncology services to save $2.2 million
  • Change rostering in the LGH ICU to save $1.035 million
  • Reallocation of beds across the NWAHS resulting in an estimated saving of $1.015 million.
  • Defer the annual leave reduction program and maintain current levels of clinical and management supervision of the communications centre at Ambulance Tasmania for a saving of $870,000.
  • Review non-frontline, education and administrative staffing at Ambulance Tasmania for a saving of $304,000.
  • Deliver savings of $800,000 in Statewide and Mental Health (SMHS) through additional State office efficiencies and a restructure of staffing and management consistent with a 10% reduction of expenditure for non-service delivery units.
  • In SMHS, introduce further efficiencies in operational and staffing costs across all SMHS units in line with wider Agency strategies, to deliver $1.59 million in 2011/12.

 

The dispute comes as the Federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon ruled out the possibility of a Commonwealth takeover of the state’s health system, despite Tasmanian Premier Lara Giddings saying the two governments were in the process of discussing a trial.