An open tender process for a private hospital co-located with the Launceston General Hospital would be unfair to Calvary, according to the Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
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An unsolicited bid from Calvary for a new hospital, understood to be proposed for the corner of Charles and Howick streets, is before the Office of the Coordinator-General, and an initial decision is expected in the coming weeks.
The new hospital would connect to the LGH via a corridor. Calvary submitted the proposal in December, and in early January, the opposition made an election commitment to facilitate a health precinct and a co-located private hospital at the LGH.
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Opposition Leader Rebecca White said a Labor majority government would call for expressions of interest from private hospital providers.
“Labor has held discussions with Calvary over the past few months, as the only private hospital in Launceston, about our policy,” she said.
“Those discussions have been constructive and informative.
“The expression of interest process should be conducted in an open and transparent way to keep the community informed.”
Chamber chief executive Michael Bailey said the co-location plan had become “a bit of a political football”.
“Both sides appear to support the idea of a new private hospital, the question has really become, should this be tendered or should Calvary be able to proceed with their idea?” he said.
“I understand that Calvary have been working with the coordinator-general on this idea. They have shared their business plan, finances, strategy and so-on.
“With my business hat on, I would usually support a transparent tender for any government project. However there are examples where a tender would not have been sensible.”
Mr Bailey said it would have been “illogical” to have tendered the university proposals to competing tertiary providers, for example.
“Any tender would be unfair to Calvary as they have showed their hand before the game was started. I also suspect that in a market the size of Launceston, bringing in another provider, with a new beaut hospital would probably put Calvary out of business.
“Maybe this is an example where a pragmatic outcome should be sought. What is best for Launceston?
“What would bring the best outcome for the patients and the community? I suspect that progressing the Calvary plan is the best way forward for all concerned.”
Ms White said Labor did not want the issue to be a political football.
“The best health outcomes for Northern Tasmania should be the priority,” she said.
“Labor was very disappointed by the political response from Health Minister Michael Ferguson to our positive policy.”
Mr Ferguson said the government would “rigorously consider [Calvary’s proposal] on its merits”.
“However, we won’t be making policy on the run and we will always put the needs of public hospital patients first,” he said.