The Australian Nurses Federation today expressed serious concern about John Howard's proposed takeover of Tasmania's Mersey Hospital saying it will not resolve the underlying problem of attracting medical specialists to the area. ANF Federal Secretary Jill Iliffe described the announcement by Mr Howard to take control of the hospital as a 'power driven political stunt'.
'This hospital has experienced difficulties for some time and those difficulties will not be resolved by an ill-considered takeover by the Howard Government in an election year,' Ms Iliffe said. 'The problems faced by the hospital are not about lack of funding or poor management they are a direct result of the inability to attract medical specialists who can provide the required medical services to the community.
'The lack of consultation with the Tasmanian Government is a real concern. John Howard is behaving like a despot. If he really wanted to assist with solving the problem, consultation with the Tasmanian Government, doctors, nurses and the community is essential. You don't solve a problem by just throwing money at it.
'It is difficult to comprehend why Health Minister Tony Abbott is refusing to engage in consultations with the States on the next round of Australian Health Care Agreements while at the same time Mr Howard is going to extraordinary lengths to intervene in the operation of Tasmania's health system."
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