Ms ROSOL question to MINISTER for HEALTH, MENTAL HEALTH and WELLBEING, Mrs ARCHER
The ACCC recently approved the sale of Hobart Private Hospital to Calvary Healthcare, with the handover due to take place in November. Calvary will not provide fertility services, terminations or gender-affirming care, in a policy position that is not only discriminatory but also limits service access for people with private health insurance. This will place more pressure on the public system. I understand that IVF will be available through Hobart Day Surgery, but where do you anticipate people will go to access other reproductive and gender‑affirming care? Is it your plan that the public system will pick up this slack? How will this impact on public service provision? What are you doing to address this looming loss of services for people, including those who are LGBTIQA+?
ANSWER
Thank you, honourable Speaker. I thank the member for her question and, again, for her interest, and, indeed, many members across the parliament who have made representation in relation to this issue – I note Rodney in the Gallery as well, welcome. Our government welcomes the ACCC’s approval of the sale of Hobart Private Hospital to Calvary Healthcare. It is a good result for Tasmanians who access private healthcare and is a positive outcome ensuring that Tasmanians continue to have access to a range of healthcare services around the state. It will ensure the continued availability of private health services for Hobart and surrounds and help to take pressure off our public system and support Tasmanians when they need it.
I do understand the concerns raised regarding what services will be offered by Calvary, and I note that the ACCC’s acknowledgement that some services would likely cease. We have been very clear that we will ensure that there is no service gap for vulnerable Tasmanians, with some services already resolved such as IVF services. We continue to work through details to resolve others, but I am confident that we are getting closer and we will have solutions for all of those issues.
The sale and transfer of operations for the hospital is not expected to be completed until late-2026. In the meantime, Healthscope will continue to own and operate the hospital. We are committed to ensuring that healthcare services will continue without disruption, as continuity of care is essential for patients and the wider Tasmanian community. We’ll continually monitor developments as the sale process rolls out to support safe, effective and sustainable delivery of services. I’m advised that regulatory approvals are yet to occur, and the terms of the agreement are yet to be negotiated, including the full range of clinical services that will be provided.
I’m advised that the Department of Health will continue to consult with the health sector and negotiate terms with the new operator before the expected handover. We are absolutely committed to working closely with all partners to ensure continuity of care, patient choice and sustainability of both public and private health services.
