QUICK FACTS
- Referrals direct from GPs for diagnostic breast imaging
- More support for women with gynaecological cancers
- New pharmacy at Royal Hobart Hospital built by mid 2025
- Second angiography suite at the Royal operational by mid 2024
- Double Emergency Department capacity at the LGH
- New multi-storey car park to start in late 2024 at the LGH
- Helipad built by 2024, saving minutes transporting patients to the ED and theatres
- New cardiac beds at the new Heart Centre - freeing up beds at the LGH
- Direct access for patients requiring urgent cardiac treatment, bypassing the Emergency Department
- Securing the future of the RFDS and its base in Launceston
- Surgical robot for improved clinical outcomes for prostrate and kidney cancers and gynaecological surgery
- 20 additional public rehabilitation or sub-acute beds at Launceston Health Hub
- Partner in new private hospital to deliver surgeries for public patients
- New medical inpatient building at the North-West Regional Hospital at Burnie
- New sub-acute building with medical oncology services at the Mersey Community Hospital
- Upgraded virtual infrastructure at 13 district hospitals
- Access for Tasmanians to a rural hospital for specialist outpatient appointments
- Free Wi-Fi at district hospitals
- Updated medical equipment for hospitals
Under our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania’s Future, a re-elected majority Liberal Government will:
- Keep rebuilding the Royal Hobart Hospital, with $187 million over six years.
- Provide $15 million for a new public Diagnostic Breast Care Centre.
- Commit $10 million for Stage 1 of the new Cancer Wellness Centre.
- Keep building the Launceston General Hospital, including $53.5 million to double the size of the Emergency Department.
- Deliver a new $4.7 million surgical robot for the LGH.
- Build a brand new $120 million Northern Heart Centre.
- Secure a new base for the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
- Partner with the Launceston Health Hub in a new private hospital.
- Build the first stage of the $174.8 million North-West Hospitals Master Plan.
- Upgrade rural hospitals so Tasmanians can see a hospital specialist without the need to travel.
- Provide a new $40 million Medical Equipment Fund.
Building a better health system is the cornerstone of our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania's future.
Over the past 10 years we have invested more than $1 billion in new hospitals and health infrastructure and will spend $1 billion more over the next decade to keep building a better health system for all Tasmanians.
Continue to build a modern Royal Hobart Hospital, with $187 million in new, fit-for-purpose health facilities.
It took a majority Liberal Government to build and open Tasmania's largest ever health infrastructure project, the new $689 million Royal Hobart Hospital's K-block - a project promised by Labor in 2006, but not even started when the Liberals took office in 2014.
A helipad (left off the plan by Labor) was built on top of K-block by the Liberals, saving lives and critical minutes in the transfer of patients.
Over the next six years, a re-elected majority Liberal Government will invest a further
$187 million to continue building, including:
- A new $15 million Diagnostic Breast Imaging Clinic recognising the growing need to meet demand for patients requiring diagnostic breast imaging and mammography services and accepting referrals from GPs to make it easier for women to access imaging. Work will start immediately on the new Clinic, which will be co-located with BreastScreen Tasmania in Hobart in a new multi-disciplinary Breast Care Centre.
- Refurbishment of A block, replacing the ageing façade, roof and further renovations.
- A new neurology/stroke ward delivering services for patients suffering stroke, neurological disorders or acquired brain injury.
- A new rapid assessment medical unit.
- A new medical sub-specialties ward.
- The co-location of cancer services and medical services to support improved patient experiences.
- Refurbishment of the older persons unit into a secure ward to meet the needs of those suffering dementia.
We will also deliver:
- Stage 1 of the new Cancer Wellness Centre, committing $10 million for the Centre, opposite the Royal Hobart Hospital, matched dollar for dollar by philanthropic funding. In partnership with S.H.E. (Support, Hope and Education) gynaecological cancer group, the University of Tasmania, and the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, the new Cancer Wellness Centre will provide support and comfort to Tasmanians with cancer and their families.
Current construction underway at the RHH includes:
- The expansion of the Emergency Department - stage two, with an additional 25 points of care.
- A second angiography suite, to meet increasing patient demand, to be operational by mid-2024.
- A new $22 million state-of-the-art pharmacy including sterile pharmaceutical production facilities to be completed by mid-2025.
Keep building the Launceston General Hospital
Since our election in 2014, we have been steadily rebuilding the LGH. In 2022, we released the next phase of this project with a 10-year, $580 million redevelopment program.
A re-elected majority Liberal Government will build on this, including:
- Doubling the size of the Emergency Department as part of a new $53.5 million expansion, ensuring the ED has additional capacity to meet current and future demand. The expansion will include a new and improved Emergency Medical Unit for patients to be discharged in less than 24 hours, and a new and improved Acute Medical Unit for patients who need a couple of days of admission, and an expanded fast track and waiting area.
Additional works under the LGH redevelopment include:
- A new multi-storey car park on the corner of Howick and Charles Streets to cater for additional services and demand at the LGH to commence in late 2024.
- A new $16 million state-of-the-art rooftop helipad, providing efficient patient transfer to the Emergency Department, ICU and theatres - fully funded and to be completed by mid-2024.
In addition, we will begin building a new purpose-built mental health precinct to replace the ageing Northside Unit. This project is already planned and fully funded and will be constructed over the next four years.
A new $120 million Northern Heart Centre
A re-elected majority Liberal Government will deliver a new lifesaving Northern Heart Centre at the Launceston General Hospital.
The new $120 million Northern Heart Centre will include:
- A new coronary care unit with 16 inpatient cardiac ward beds, and seven coronary care unit beds, which will remain co-located in the ICU.
- Two cardiac catheterisation (cath) labs with dedicated recovery and holding bays for direct access for patient requiring procedures (bypassing the ED).
- Dedicated diagnostic testing for echocardiography and outpatient services, with five echocardiography testing rooms, one exercise testing room and six outpatient consultation rooms.
- Direct access to the ICU, ED and medical imaging.
The new Northern Heart Centre strengthens the role of the LGH as a specialist cardiology service for the North and North-West, with recognised best practice cardiac care, helping attract and retain specialist health professionals.
By providing new cardiac beds at the Heart Centre, it will free up bed capacity at the LGH, improving patient flow across the hospital.
Ensuring cath lab access for patients within 24 hours of presentation will reduce reliance on EDs in the North and the North-West.
Secure a new base for the Royal Flying Doctor Service
The Royal Flying Doctor Service has supported Tasmania's health system since the early 1960s, delivering aeromedical and other primary health services into our remote communities.
An Australian Government promise of $15 million to build a new purpose-built base at Launceston Airport has left a funding gap of $6 million.
To complete this critical infrastructure, a re-elected majority Liberal Government will fund the remaining $6 million in costs for the project to enable RFDS to get on with their vital work for rural and regional Tasmanians. It is expected, subject to approvals, construction will commence later this year.
As well as being the headquarters for RFDS Tasmania, the new base has been designed in close consultation with Ambulance Tasmania, including an Ambulance Tasmania operations room, enclosed ambulance parking bays, patient transfer room, six Ambulance Tasmania crew reset rooms, and Ambulance Tasmania administrative space.
Deliver a Surgical Robot for the LGH
A re-elected majority Liberal Government will invest $4.7 million to purchase a surgical robot for urological, gynaecological and other precision procedures.
This contemporary technology is commonly used to perform radical prostatectomy for prostrate cancer or kidney cancer surgery. It can greatly improve clinical outcomes for patients by reducing surgical complications, pain, blood loss and infection, meaning a shorter recovery time and hospital stay.
Many Tasmanians routinely travel to Hobart or other States for access to a surgical robot.
The surgical robot will also assist in retention of key specialists in Northern Tasmania.
It will be installed at the LGH in 2024 and become operational in 2025.
Partner with the Launceston Health Hub in a new private hospital
A re-elected majority Liberal Government will partner with the Launceston Health Hub to build a new $70 million hospital in Launceston.
The new hospital will have private hospital rooms, theatres, endoscopy units and two additional beds, available to treat both public and private patients.
Through this partnership, a re-elected majority Liberal Government will directly invest in the hospital project through a $35 million, 50 per cent stake in the joint venture. As part of our agreement, we will deliver public surgeries in the same way we do with other private hospitals in our partnership.
In this way, we retain taxpayer ownership and protect public funding.
In addition to this joint venture, a re-elected majority Liberal Government will also partner with the Hub on its Stage 1 development, delivering 20 additional public rehabilitation or sub-acute beds, taking pressure off the Launceston General Hospital.
Build the first stage of the $174.8 million North-West Hospitals Master Plan, upgrading hospitals in Burnie and Latrobe
The two North-West Coast hospitals will undergo a range of transformative upgrades, including new buildings, wards and specialist units over the next four years.
As part of a 20-year Master Plan for North-West Hospitals, the upgrades will be at the North-West Regional Hospital (NWRH) and the Parkside Precinct, both at Burnie, and the Mersey Community Hospital (MCH) at Latrobe.
Over the next four years, a re-elected majority Liberal Government will invest $174.8 million to start work on stage one of the Plan.
At the NWRH, this will deliver -
- a new medical inpatient building, including a medical ward, clinical diagnostics, dialysis and the lung function laboratory;
- a new ambulance drop-off and ED entry expansion; and
- a new link bridge unlocking the entire site for ongoing development.
The new Mental Health Precinct to replace the ageing Spencer Clinic will also be constructed over the next four years. This project is already budgeted.
For the Mersey, additional upgrades will include:
- A new sub-acute building, providing medical oncology services and an inpatient unit for geriatric evaluation and management.
New outpatient clinics, theatre spaces and an expanded medical unit will be completed over the next four years.
Upgrade district hospitals so Tasmanians can see a hospital specialist without the need to travel
Tasmania's four major hospitals are supported by 13 district (rural) hospitals: King Island, Smithton, Queenstown, Scottsdale, George Town, St Helens, St Marys, Campbell Town, Beaconsfield, Deloraine, Oatlands, New Norfolk and Tasman.
A re-elected majority Liberal Government will install virtual infrastructure in all district hospitals over the next 12 months to:
- Provide an immediate and vital link for district hospitals to access the specialist expertise of our major hospitals.
- Give Tasmanians access to a hospital specialist without having to travel into cities.
Staff at district hospital services will assist local Tasmanians with their outpatient appointments.
We will also provide district hospital doctors with direct access to MyEmergency Doctor for immediate specialist hospital advice, keeping patients in their local area rather than transferring them to a major hospital.
Free Wifi will also be rolled out in all district hospitals.
This will be funded as part of our $475 million digital health infrastructure transformation plan.
More digital Health upgrades, creating efficiencies, saving time in hospitals and for GPs
Transforming Tasmania's health system means more than just bricks and mortar. It's about saving the time of health professionals and Tasmanians and getting better patient outcomes.
Over the next four years, as part of our $475 million, 10-year digital health infrastructure investment, we will put in place a single Electronic Medical Record, an Ambulance Electronic Patient Care Record, an electronic meal management solution for ordering and provisioning, and ensure all health data is safe and secure.
A new $40 million medical equipment fund
Contemporary medical equipment is essential to the continued delivery of health and hospital services, and improved patient outcomes.
A re-elected majority Liberal Government will invest $40 million over four years into new medical equipment to ensure critical equipment is at the ready to continue our strong four-year elective surgery and endoscopy plans.
Net Cost: $333 million over four years in capital infrastructure.
In addition: $6 million to the Royal Flying Doctor Service
$10 million for the Cancer Wellness Centre
$35 million in equity for the Launceston Private Hospital