Latest news with #RoyalHobartHospital
ABC News
05-07-2025
- Health
- ABC News
Healthcare trumps stadium as top election issue for these Tasmanians
While the proposed Macquarie Point stadium has dominated discussion among ABC Your Say respondents, for many voters health remains front of mind ahead of the Tasmanian state election. A YouGov poll asked 1,287 Tasmanians to rank their top three issues at the election, with 22 per cent listing "investing more in health" as their number one issue. Your Say participant Deanna Kruup is speaking out about her experience with Tasmania's health system in the hope that the next government will address shortfalls. After a complicated and high-risk pregnancy, Ms Kruup developed severe postpartum depression. She wanted to be admitted to the three-bed mother and baby unit at the Royal Hobart Hospital, but was told she was not eligible. After five months and a number of referrals, she managed to access help through the Perinatal and Infant Mental Health outpatient service. "Even though I was accepted eventually that's lost time I'll never get back with my son where I was just so unwell." She is concerned other women will not be able to access the help they need when they need it. Ms Kruup said her experience has had a big impact on her life. "It's something that's going to stay with me for a long time and I would love to have another baby, and now I am really worried about what's going to happen next time." Earlier this year the state government announced it would transfer its three existing Royal Hobart Hospital beds and create an expanded mother and baby unit at St John's Park in New Town. There were also plans to establish a new mother and baby unit in the north of the state. Both are yet to happen. Fiona MacFarlane said she and her family could "write a book about all the negative experiences that we've had with the Tasmanian health system". Ms MacFarlane suffers from kidney failure and is approaching end-stage renal failure. According to the 2021 Census, 37.5 per cent of people living in Tasmania had a long-term health condition, compared with 31.7 per cent of Australians. These conditions include arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, cancer and kidney disease. With the prospect of needing dialysis three days a week in the future, Ms MacFarlane decided to move from Tasmania to Brisbane. Ms MacFarlane has anxiety and depression because of her chronic health condition. She has spent time at the former St Helen's Private Hospital for mental health care. But after it closed in 2023, Ms MacFarlane felt there would be little support for her ongoing mental health needs. Ms MacFarlane would like to see money invested in more urgent care clinics in suburban areas, a modern renal unit, and more beds in public and private mental health services. "The government could prioritise health instead of utopian visions for the future which includes a sports stadium, which is a luxury item, it's frivolous, we don't need it," she said. Mary from Tasmania's north-west agrees. "My husband has cancer and has to travel to Hobart [four hours away]," she said. But Vin from Hobart shared a different view with the ABC's Your Say: "We need the stadium, health swallows $10 million per day, $370 million will be 37 days of health spend and won't fix the so-called health crisis." The Rockliff government had said it would cap the state government contribution to the stadium at $375 million. There are 65,939 Tasmanians waiting to see a specialist in the public health system. The ABC has heard from people facing long waits to have conditions diagnosed and treated. "Wife has been on waiting list to see a neurosurgeon for four years," one person wrote to Your Say. "I have also been waiting to see a neurosurgeon for neck face and head pain for four years now. I receive a text every now and then to see if I want to stay on the list!" another wrote. There are also shortages and long waits to see specialists in the private sector as some Your Say contributors have found. "I want to see a massive change in the availability of paediatrics. My son has lived with ADHD his whole life," Allan said. "It's been confirmed by a psychologist but they can't prescribe medication, and everyone's books are closed." There are 8,990 Tasmanians on the elective surgery wait list as of May this year. Ruth from Launceston said she has been "waiting over four years for major surgery." Dan Geneste has physical and mental disabilities and spends a lot of time dealing with the health system. She was taken to the Royal Hobart Hospital for mental health issues and waited 12 hours to see a psychiatrist. "After that, I had to wait another 12-ish hours before I was transferred to the mental health ward." Ms Geneste also struggled to get a diagnosis for ADHD, waiting two years to see a psychiatrist. But she has been unable to continue taking medication for ADHD because she is still waiting for her next appointment with a psychiatrist to get a new prescription. Health will be a big factor in deciding her vote at the upcoming July 19 election. The ABC has heard from people struggling to access diagnostic screening services. "All the diagnostic tests I need are either not available in the north of the state and only available in Hobart with extensive wait lists, or the machines are 'broken' or there is no trained personnel available to perform these tests," Lin said. "It is such a sad state of affairs." Carol shared with the ABC her month-long wait to have a contrast mammogram after being diagnosed with malignant invasive breast cancer. "This is impacting on the surgery that I need and is adding extra stress which is a very stressful and frightening time that I am facing." The Liberals have made a series of health pledges early on in the election campaign. The big ticket item is 250 new hospital beds through a northern health complex linked to the Launceston General Hospital. The Liberals have also promised install a CT scanner at St Helens District Hospital If re-elected, the Liberals would provide four new free-of-charge breast screening clinics for those aged 50-74 years, living in Kingborough, Devonport, Triabunna and Glenorchy. The party has also promised to allow GPs to diagnose, treat and manage ADHD. Labor has promised to quarantine $120 million in funding for digital health upgrades. But the party is yet to release its full list of health policies and promises. Among the Greens pledges is a plan to increase funding for community nurses by 50 per cent and expand the renal unit in the Launceston suburb of Kings Meadows. View the Tasmanian health system dashboard for data about wait times, admissions and other information
ABC News
25-06-2025
- ABC News
Investigation launched after Tasmania Police pursuit ends with crash at Cambridge
Witnesses are being asked to come forward after an allegedly stolen van being pursued by Tasmania Police crashed and rolled into another vehicle near Hobart on Wednesday. Police said the alleged driver, a 36-year-old man, was taken to hospital after the crash on Cambridge Road at Cambridge about 2pm on Wednesday. The man was driving an allegedly stolen white Mitsubishi Express van when he was "observed" by police, who "attempted to intercept the vehicle, activating their lights", police said. The driver then "allegedly evaded police, driving dangerously before crashing, rolling the van, and colliding with another vehicle". The man, who police said was the sole occupant of the van, was taken to the Royal Hobart Hospital. The female driver, and sole occupant of the second vehicle, was not physically injured in the crash, police said. Cambridge Road was closed for about four and a half hours while the scene was examined. Police said "as is normal practice, a Professional Standards investigation will be conducted into the incident to determine the circumstances surrounding the crash". Police are calling for witnesses to the crash or any person who observed a white Mitsubishi Express van being driven around the time of the crash to come forward. Anyone with dash cam footage or information should contact Tasmania Police on 131444, report anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 1800333000 or via the CrimeStoppers website by quoting OR778445.
ABC News
24-06-2025
- Health
- ABC News
Mother creates a book to help siblings navigate neonatal intensive care
When Deloraine mother Jayne Case went into hospital to have her third child, things didn't go to plan. Her son was born with kidney issues and the new family of five needed to temporarily relocate to Hobart, three hours from their home in Tasmania's north. The family was based at the Royal Hobart Hospital's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) for six weeks. "He needed a lot of extra support and help once he was out in the world," she told Tracey Strong on ABC Radio Hobart Evenings. The newborn required surgery at eight days old, and the lives of her eight-year-old and five-year-old sons were turned upside down. "They moved from a quiet country life straight into the heart of Hobart at Ronald McDonald House," she said. "That was a bit of a transition for them both." Ms Case said the NICU was quite confronting at first, and very different to how her sons thought they would meet their new sibling. "It's not what you're ever expecting when you think of a newborn baby, especially when you've waited for your little brother for so long," she said. The NICU is on a separate ward and floor to the maternity ward. "In terms of newborn babies and how we expect them to be in their mother's arms, in their mother's bed in the maternity ward in the hospital, it's not like that at all," she said. "Most of the babies are absolutely tiny and they've got cords and tubes and all sorts of life-saving monitors around them. Ms Case said at one point she couldn't hold her new baby for five days. Ms Case said she and her husband tried to stay together at the hospital so they could help each other digest any news from medical staff. "When the doctor walks in the door you never know what they are going to say," she said. "We needed lots of extra help with the other boys. She felt that she needed something to help explain to the boys what was going on. "None of us had the brain space to do that," she said. "I thought it'd be great to have a book and went online and tried to find something, but I couldn't find anything that was suitable." It inspired her to write something herself. "I held onto the idea and one night when he was four or five months old it just appeared in my brain just like magic," she said. The book, Counting on You, was released at the start of June and is written from the perspective of a boy called Otto who loves numbers. It goes through all the different things Otto did to help himself cope during his baby brother's NICU time. "It's personal for me but I know it'll be really helpful for other siblings of NICU babies to see themselves in this big scary journey," Ms Case said. "Until you've experienced it yourself it's really difficult to get your head around." Her now two-year-old will have life-long kidney issues. "He's an amazing little kid, we all absolutely adore him and will do absolutely anything for him," she said. "I hope [the book] helps siblings and families going through a similar journey to find comfort and hope and recognition of how things are for them. "I'd love to also help other families and children who haven't experienced the NICU world to have a greater understanding and empathy of other people's stories."
ABC News
14-06-2025
- Health
- ABC News
Hobart father finds specimens from daughter's body may have been kept in museum without consent
It is a night Hobart father Alby* will never forget. "My daughter passed away at the Royal Hobart Hospital on boxing day 40 years and five months ago at around 7.50pm." He said he had been hit by a second wave of grief after finding out his daughter, who was two years old when she died, may have had specimens taken from her body during a coronial autopsy without the family's knowledge and stored in a pathology museum. Alby regularly visits his daughter's grave in southern Tasmania. The Tasmanian Coroner's Office announced in April last year that specimens had potentially been given to the R. A. Rodda Pathology Museum at the University of Tasmania without consent for 30 years. The museum first raised concerns with the Coroner's Office in 2016. The Coroner's Office said initial records indicated the collection of specimens started in 1953, stopped in 1985, and related to 147 people. The office was able to identify some next of kin, but in January published a list of 126 names in newspaper advertisements and asked anyone related to any of the people named to contact the Coroner's Office. The advertisement did not include any information about how affected family members could access support. At the time, independent MLC Meg Webb criticised the office for its "blunt" handling of sensitive information. After Ms Webb's concerns were raised, the webpage was updated to include the form families are asked to submit to provide information, details of support services, and information sheets to help people cope with grief and loss. Alby has been in contact with the Coroner's Office about his daughter, but is yet to find out what specimens may have been retained from her body. He has been offered a phone call and has been advised to have a friend or family member with him when he receives that call. "I'm going to go through it all again." Alby described the communication from the Coroner's Office to him as "heartless", and said a phone call was not enough. "If they could just sit down and just feel the pain that we're feeling," he said. "Then they'd probably understand what it's like, just to see the faces and see the health effects it's going to have on people for many years." Ms Webb said it had been sad to see how the situation had affected many Tasmanian families. "It's come as a real shock … and it's really brought up a lot of trauma for many families," she said. "This is a highly unusual situation and it's come out of the blue. "It really required incredibly sensitive communication with the families involved, and what we've seen is that some families have not felt that that communication has been as sensitive as it needed to be, and I think there's a lot to learn from this circumstance so we don't see this repeated." Ms Webb said while the Coroner's Office was investigating how the remains came to be in the R. A. Rodda Museum's collection, further questions needed to be answered. She also said there should be some form of public reporting with clear recommendations. "We need to have some questions answered about how this happened, who was responsible and who should have had oversight over these circumstances. Investigating coroner, Simon Cooper, said there was no known precedent in Tasmania of a notification to the Coroner's Office of this size. "It has been and remains a significant task for the Coronial Division, whose staff have worked diligently and efficiently to progress the matter," Mr Cooper said. "I wish to emphasise that, until they were reported, the existence of the remains were not known by present or previous coroners or staff of the Coroner's Office. "Their removal at autopsy to be used as medical museum specimens were not at any direction or order of a coroner." Mr Cooper said he recognised "that the discovery of these specimens has been a difficult and painful experience for many". "The coroners and the staff of the Coronial Division work extremely hard to ensure coronial processes are properly, patiently and sensitively applied to this historical situation, whilst performing the required functions under the Coroners Act 1995. "I anticipate publishing further information, in the form of a finding under the Coroners Act 1995 within the next few months, when all investigations are complete." A spokesperson for the Coroner's Office said the office continued to manage "a number of inquiries" as the investigation continues, and that counselling support was being offered to family members who have come forward. Health ethics and professionalism professor at Deakin School of Medicine Dominique Martin said ethical principals, standards and expectations in clinical medical practice — including the importance of consent — had evolved over the past century. "But that's taken us several decades to get to, and if we look then at the removal of body parts … during life or after death, I think that's probably been a few decades behind that," Dr Martin said. She said that until "very recently", and not just in Australia, there had been examples of body parts either being removed with permission or knowledge but retained and used for purposes without there having been any consultation with the patient, or, in the case of a death, the patient's family. "That's, I think, been for a very long time considered normal in medicine and in scientific research." Dr Martin said while there had been a "big change", it had been relatively recent. "I suspect we're not done with finding out things that have happened in the recent past that we nowadays would be quite concerned about," she said. "What matters is that they [patients or their families] have a choice in it, that they have control over that, and usually they have some knowledge of how things will be treated. *Name has been changed
ABC News
28-05-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Tasmania's healthcare is 'costing a lot of lives' says independent health analyst Martyn Goddard
Martyn Goddard It's too small, it hasn't had the economy of scale, none of the several operators over those years has been able to make a go of it, including Healthscope. Why should we think that that is suddenly going to be saleable? It's not. Kylie Baxter Do we need government intervention if the Hobart Private cannot be sold? Martyn Goddard If the Hobart Private cannot be sold, and I suspect strongly that that will be the case, then there is going to be no alternative but for the state government to step in and take it over. We cannot afford to lose 146 beds. Kylie Baxter What would it mean for health? Martyn Goddard Well, you know the problems we've got at the moment around the Royal Hobart Hospital, those would be magnified because the people who are in Hobart Private overwhelmingly are there people with elective surgery. And in this state and in this country, the private hospitals are doing a hell of a lot more elective surgery than the public hospitals. If you want elective surgery in this country, you've got to pay for it basically. You take that facility out and where are you? You're in a lot of trouble. And so are the people who rely on them, the patients who rely on them, and so of course are the staff. Kylie Baxter What do you actually think health care will look like in Tasmania in the next 12 months or even inside the next 12 months? Martyn Goddard I think it's likely that the Hobart Private Hospital will be reintegrated into the Royal Hobart Hospital. Overall, it's going to make relatively little difference to capacity because capacity in all of them is basically full. Kylie Baxter So you think there'll be no buyer and there'll have to be a bailout? Martyn Goddard I don't think we should bailout Brookfield, the private equity people. I mean, I think the smart thing would be actually to wait until it falls over and then just step in and take the lease back. The government still owns the property. It's just leased. So if they give up the lease, then back in the government's ownership. Kylie Baxter Anything else you wanted to add before we wind up? Martyn Goddard Just that I really wish our governments would wake up to the fact, genuinely wake up to the fact, that our health system is in deep, deep trouble. Really deep trouble. It's costing a lot of lives. It's costing a great deal of suffering. They could do something about it. They've chosen until now and ongoing to do nothing about it, to pretend it's not happening, to pretend everything's okay. It's not okay.
