The Tasmanian branch of the Australian Medical Association has launched a scathing attack on the state government, after Health Minister Michael Ferguson denied the existence of a report into the state of the Tasmanian Health Service on Wednesday.
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The Department of Premier and Cabinet is believed to have commissioned Deloitte Access Economics to compile a report on the roll-out of beds in the state’s public hospitals.
Mr Ferguson says work around the report is ongoing and is being done in accordance with the New Bed Implementation Team.
But AMA Tasmania president Stuart Day understands that Deloitte’s work in this area has identified “serious deficiencies” in the THS executive.
“These [deficiencies] warrant urgent attention,” Dr Day said on Thursday.
“We have requested government not only make the Deloitte report into the THS executive public but also make available the government’s response to the report.
“We also request the AMA, and the public receives reassurance that the governing council [of the THS] will be held accountable for the oversight and management of the THS executive and its conduct in relation to effectively managing Tasmania's public hospital system.”
Dr Day also reiterated that the AMA held “no confidence” in the THS executive, saying that “tough decisions” needed to be made to immediately address problems in the health system.
The AMA has sent a letter to Mr Ferguson, asking him to “step up and take charge of the ongoing ... saga”.
Mr Ferguson again stressed that the government had not received the Deloitte report yet.
“The work being done by Deloitte is ongoing to support the opening of new beds currently being rolled out,” he said.
In Parliament on Thursday, Opposition Leader Rebecca White asked Premier Will Hodgman whether Deloitte had provided any information to the government regarding its work around the health system.
“Your chaotic government is based on a culture of secrecy,” she said.
The Premier echoed Mr Ferguson’s comments, saying there was no report.
“I can confirm that any reports to government that are part of Cabinet deliberations will be Cabinet-in- confidence,” he said.
“Any reports to government by Deloitte … will be gratefully received.”