About 14 months ago Dr Kurien Koshy announced he would be leaving the Launceston General Hospital.

He had been based at the LGH for about six years.

Dr Koshy arrived in Launceston following the death of Dr Stan Siejka. 

It took two years for Dr Koshy to fill this void due to the tragic death of Dr Siejka in a skiing accident.

What this indicates is that recruiting for specialist positions can be a difficult process. 

However, what the public want to know is that steps were being taken to recruit.

That offers were being made that were attractive for people to call Tasmania home. 

Tasmanians, and arguably our health budget, wants full-time specialists – and not be reliant on locums.

While the concept of a locum is great for periods of change, it is not sustainable in the long run for many reasons. 

Our health system’s reliance on locums is an area that needs to be addressed sooner rather than later.

Sadly, he said a reason for his departure was due to his cries of help being ignored by the state government.

Health Minister Michael Ferguson, at the time, said he had not received any complaints.

Shortly after Koshy’s resignation, the minister announced there would be two neurologists for Launceston.

Also, after about six months, Mr Ferguson announced changes to the Tasmanian Health Service. 

The recruitment of two neurologists, who join two endocrinologists, ends a decade drought of either zero or one specialist.

The Examiner has been the first to analyse and criticise the health system when warranted. 

We are also willing to be the first to celebrate the wins.

This is not only a win, but an investment in improving health outcomes for Northern Tasmania.