The boss of one of Tasmania's biggest private health insurance providers has called for consultation and collaboration around Calvary Health Care's bid for a private co-located hospital.
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Calvary's unsolicited bid was first put to the state government in December 2017. The new build would replace the private health provider's St Luke's and St Vincent's hospitals in Launceston.
Health Minister Sarah Courtney said a final decision from the government would be made in the first half of 2020, following advice on the "final, fully developed proposal".
However, St.Lukes.Health chief executive Paul Lupo said the region's health and business community couldn't afford not to work together as the proposal developed.
"I believe that the broad and deep consultation process must start now," he said.
"We have incredibly diverse and intelligent people living within our community and we should be leveraging off this knowledge.
"This is a once in a generation opportunity and we can't afford not to work together to achieve the best possible outcome for the region and the state as a whole."
The comments were echoed by Launceston Chamber of Commerce chief executive Neil Grose, who said Calvary needed to be able to finalise their key stakeholder consultations before the next step of the process.
"It is important for this project to continue to move forward as efficiently as possible and for the proponent to develop their business case and other issues fully," he said.
"This is a significant private investment of capital in Launceston local and state governments should, of course, do all they can to expedite the necessary approvals and get this important project underway as soon as possible."
In May, the government announced its preferred site for the private hospital - existing Health Department land across from the Launceston General Hospital.
The earmarked site at 52 Frankland Street now houses the department's mental health services building.
Calvary's St Luke's and St Vincent's hospitals' general manager Grant Musgrave said Calvary was continuing to work with the government as "part of its ongoing detailed design work for its final proposal".
"Detailed planning and consultation with our clinicians and staff is progressing well and we will continue to work closely with government to ensure that the co-location ultimately improves the services and health outcomes for both public and private patients alike," he said.
Ms Courtney said assessment of the proposal was continuing to progress "through the arms-length Office of the Coordinator-General Unsolicited Bid process".