More detail is needed about the Rockliff Government’s plans to provide a dedicated Mother and Baby Unit at the Royal Hobart Hospital.
While the announcement is a good start for the many families that use the service, three publicly funded beds is clearly not enough to cater for the entire state – and doesn’t even come close to replacing what has been lost.
On the day the St Helen’s Private Hospital announced the closure of this service, Premier Rockliff was focused on his funding announcement for a billion dollar stadium in Hobart.
After 10 years in Government the Liberal Government has failed to prioritise maternal and mental health services, which has led to the Government scrambling following St Helen’s shock announcement to close.
Labor urges the Rockliff Government to commit to rolling out public Mother and Baby Unit beds across Tasmania to ensure there is equity of access.
The Premier and Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing also must outline his plan to provide continuing access to the mental health beds that will be lost at St Helen’s Private Hospital.
Anita Dow MP
Shadow Minister for Health, Mental Health and Wellbeing