Jeremy Rockliff,Minister for Health
The Tasmanian Government is committed to maximising the benefits of the Calvary co-located private hospital and the Launceston General Hospital Masterplan to improve health services in northern Tasmania.
I am pleased to confirm positive discussions have been continuing about the development of a co-located private hospital in Launceston, with parties working constructively in recent months to agree on the core details of a Project Development Agreement confirming facilities and services to be delivered.
A Memorandum of Understanding is in place between the Tasmanian Government, Department of Health, and Calvary Health Care to develop a new private hospital, co-located with the Launceston General Hospital (LGH).
The parties have worked diligently in recent months to agree on the core details of the Project Development Agreement, Land Sale Agreement, and Site Access Licence for the delivery of the hospital.
Discussions with key stakeholders including Clinicians from the LGH and Calvary, St. Lukes Health, Northern Health Group, and the Australian Medical Association about the services and capacity to be delivered have been ongoing and have provided valuable feedback and informed negotiations.
Subject to Development Approval, Calvary Health Care has agreed to deliver the following facilities from commencement:
- 128 inpatient beds;
- 40 Day Patient spaces;
- 8 Day Oncology/Infusion spaces;
- 10 Operating Theatres;
- 2 Procedure Rooms; and
- 2 Cardiac Catheterisation Labs.
Services to be offered include:
- General Medical;
- Elective Surgery;
- Gastrointestinal Endoscopy;
- Interventional Cardiology;
- Mental Health;
- Palliative Care;
- Gynaecology;
- Oncology;
- Infusions;
- Radiology and Pathology; and
- Provision of space, for example, for a proposed extended care/GP service (operated by a third-party arrangement following further consultations with stakeholders).
In addition, there is potential for an Integrated Care Hub/Out of Hospital services to be developed.
An overhead link bridge between the new hospital and the LGH will allow better integration of services between the two facilities and faster, simpler transfer of patients.
To ensure a complementary mix of services between the private hospital and the LGH, the Government and key stakeholders consider are better delivered through the public health system including Chronic Pain Services and a Palliative Care Hospice. These services are being considered as part of the clinical services planning through the Department’s Our Healthcare Future plan, and the LGH Masterplan. Clinical Services Planning will also further consider maternity services at the LGH which may be augmented by Postnatal Care at Calvary.
To allow for additional activities to be completed, it has been agreed that the finalisation date for the Project Development Agreement under the Memorandum of Understanding will be extended from 31 January 2022 to 30 April 2022.
Additional activities to be undertaken by Calvary Health Care include site investigations as part of due diligence and finalising plans to minimise disruption during construction.
The development of the new co-located hospital will enable better health services and boost the attraction and retention of health professionals.
