This news was 14 months in the making.

We imagine the Health Department is breathing a collective sigh of relief – for two reasons.

Firstly, and the most important reason, is the fact Northern Tasmanians will have access to specialist services after nearly a decade of either zero or only one neurologist.

The Health Minister was the first to admit it was a decade-long drought that was now over. 

The appointment also puts the North in one of it’s best positions in recent times when it comes to specialist services.

This recruitment period shows that Launceston is an attractive place for professionals to live. 

Secondly, and more internally, would be the phone calls and emails easing up between our newsroom and minister’s office in relation to these positions.

We were constantly asking questions around recruitment since Dr Koshy announced his departure in June 2017.

Our health reporter often joked that a restraining order could be filed any day based on the consistent questioning on this one topic.

I’ve said previously, via this email, that I would like an opportunity to tell you more about how we make editorial decisions and publish the news. I would also like more opportunities to hear from you directly and tell us what stories you would like to read in The Examiner.

To do this we have created a Facebook group exclusively for our digital subscribers – you. Please join us here.

We will use this platform to engage with you, our readers, on a variety of topics, offer exclusive giveaways and keep you connected to the community.

I look forward to engaging with you more regularly on this Facebook page.

Until next week,

Courtney