The Tasmanian Government is continuing to deliver our vision for the future of health care in Tasmania with the release of the Long-Term Plan for Healthcare in Tasmania 2040 Implementation Plan.
Minister for Health, Mental Health and Wellbeing, Guy Barnett said this is another important milestone in progressing the Government's long-term health reform agenda, Our Healthcare Future.
"This positive step reaffirms our ongoing commitment to ensure Tasmanians can access the right care, at the right place, at the right time," Minister Barnett said.
"The Long-Term Plan provides a blueprint of how the Tasmanian Government will work in partnership with the Tasmanian community to achieve our vision that all Tasmanians are supported by a world class, innovative and integrated health system under our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania's Future.
"In line with the long-term nature of the plan, it's implementation will be staged over several years, with the first stage over two years from 2023-25.
"This will allow us to focus on those actions with the greatest immediate effect on health outcomes that will make the greatest difference to people's lives.
"Further planning will continue to build on improvement and innovation implemented during this initial two-year period - laying the foundation for a sustainable and patient-centred healthcare system, that delivers contemporary and accessible healthcare services".
"These reforms are about building a sustainable health system now and into the future, by focusing on connecting care across acute, subacute, rehabilitation, mental health, primary health and care in the community."
The priorities we are progressing over the next two years will mean:
- Patients get healthcare faster and are back home sooner and making it easier to transition through the different areas of our health system.
- Providing more access to after-hours primary care and urgent healthcare options so Tasmanians have more care options and can avoid the Emergency Department where appropriate.
- Making healthcare easier to access through virtual care hubs, better navigation tools and creating more healthcare options in the home and community so Tasmanians can receive safe and sustainable care closer to home.
- Delivering more elective surgeries, endoscopy procedures and outpatient appointments to ensure Tasmanians get the care they need sooner.
- Enhancing services at our district hospitals and community health centres which means less travel for Tasmanians.
- Strengthened mental health services that are integrated with a focus on community-based models that will deliver care where people need it.
Progress towards the Long-Term Plan is already underway, through initiatives such as Health Workforce 2040, the 10-year strategy for Digital Health Transformation – Improving Patient Outcomes and infrastructure and hospital master planning.
Other key initiatives that have already been achieved include the establishment of urgent care clinics, the implementation of our nation leading eReferral System and the establishment of a Tasmanian Rural and Remote Clinical Network to better understand rural needs.
