Retention of Midlands Multi-Purpose Health Centre and Services

The petition of the undersigned citizens of Tasmania draws the attention of the House to the fact that: • The Liberal Government has slashed health services at the Midlands Multi-Purpose Health Centre. • The Liberal Government's attack on rural health services is a false economy. • Cuts include loss of one nurse, limitations on hours of work permitted to nursing staff inconsistent with those applied at major facilities, and loss of the local ambulance service. • This combines with cuts made by the former Labor government; cancellation of the contract with the local pharmacy and outsourcing of food for aged care from Cambridge. • Cancellation of pharmacy contract combines with Federal government moves to introduce price disclosure requirements that may force the pharmacy's closure due to loss of income. Your Petitioners therefore request that the House: • Acknowledge essential health services provided by the Centre. • Acknowledge the Centre provides services to broader Midlands community, travelling public, and patients from the East Coast. • Recognise the loss of a nurse will be compounded by restrictions on hours nurses are permitted to work. • Recognise the loss of a centralised ambulance service may cost lives if patients are forced to wait for emergency transport from afar. • Recognise the Liberals' election promise to grow and support rural communities and reinstate the pharmacy's contract to balance impacts of new Federal regulations and ensure rapid delivery of medication. • Calls on the Liberal Government to immediately restore funding to the Centre, and consult with locals and stakeholders on how to best utilise healthcare funding.