Now, more than three years on, it remains very much a hypothetical, with consultation occurring behind close doors in a community that is screaming out for answers for "how to fix the health system" and improve outcomes.

Many people will see the term private hospital and think this isn't a development that will affect them. But there is no denying Tasmania's public health system is under immense pressure. This has been the case for decades. In fact medical professionals have been calling out for a co-located hospital in Launceston for more than 20 years.

Prior to the 2018 state election, Cavalry's proposal - like many things related to Tasmania's health system - quickly became a political hot potato. While respectful that this is a significant proposal, and the necessary process for an unsolicited bid is going to take some time, it's fair to say that the community deserves some answers.

Because while not every Tasmanian benefits from private health insurance, private patients continue to access the LGH emergency department and birthing suite because there is no other option. The burden sits largely with the public system and it's clearly not coping. Health already takes up more than a third of the state budget. Clearly, "unprecedented" health funding will never be enough. It's time to be more innovative.

Co-location would enable the two hospitals to share space, staff and services. It has been shown to improve efficiencies, produce better patients outcomes and attract specialists. Over the next six weeks The Examiner will be exploring what a co-located hospital in Launceston could mean for our community.

We also want to start a conversation. Why? Because we have reached a "Critical Condition" in our health system and without urgent intervention, we are doomed to keep repeating the same mistakes, without getting any results.

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