Urgent clarity requested on Hobart Private Hospital amid Healthscope woes
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The Tasmanian government says it is "actively working on contingencies" after the operator of Hobart Private Hospital announced its parent entities had entered receivership.
Healthscope, which runs more than three dozen hospitals across the country, insists the appointment of McGrathNicol as receivers will have no impact on jobs, doctors or patient care.
"All 37 of our hospitals continue to operate as normal and today's appointment of receivers, including additional funding, ensures a stable path to a sale, with no impact on any hospitals, staff or patients," Healthscope chief executive Tino La Spina said.
The receivership does not affect Healthscope's operational division, which runs the hospitals, but instead relates to the company's non-operating shareholding entities.
"Our immediate focus is to engage constructively with all key stakeholders to ensure uninterrupted operation of Healthscope hospitals and continuity of best practice standards of patient care," receiver Keith Crawford from McGrathNicol said.
"We will also work closely with Healthscope management to support any operational funding requirements via access to $100 million of new funding from Commonwealth Bank while we pursue an orderly transition of ownership of Healthscope's hospitals."
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Mr La Spina ruled out any job losses or closures.
In Tasmania, the company runs the Hobart Private Hospital, which has almost 150 beds.
The facility treats more than 20,000 patients each year and employs about 600 people, according to its website.
Speaking ahead of the news breaking, the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) told ABC Radio Hobart it was deeply concerned about the latest developments, following the company's announcement earlier this year to shut its maternity services in Hobart and Darwin.
"We are writing to [the] Healthscope CEO and the Tasmanian Minister for Health, seeking urgent information and assurances with regard to the ongoing operation of Healthscope hospitals," ANMF Tasmanian branch acting secretary Phoebe Mansell said.
"But members are disappointed that they are hearing about this through the media as they did when midwifery services were removed."
Ms Mansell said it was essential the hospital remains open.
"So our focus now will be really working hard with state and federal governments and stakeholders to try and keep Healthscope hospitals open.
"Of course, we'll also be looking to try and protect the jobs and entitlements of our members working in those facilities, but particularly for us, the Hobart Private."
State 'can't afford' to lose hospital, Federal MP says
Independent federal MP Andrew Wilkie, who is based in Hobart, said the state's health system "would collapse" if the private hospital were to close.
"The Tasmanian government needs to get out there today and tell us what it is doing and what contingency plans it is putting in place, and would it even entertain the idea of buying the private [hospital] back and rolling it into the public health system?
"Because we just can't afford to lose that hospital.
The Tasmanian government owns the building where the private hospital is located but has leased it out since 1998.
Tasmanian government 'working on contingencies'
Tasmania's Minister for Health Jacquie Petrusma said the government was "actively working on contingencies" to ensure Tasmanians would continue being able to access "the private healthcare they pay for".
"We recognise the uncertainty this situation is bringing to staff and patients," Ms Petrusma said.
She said, in the event Healthscope couldn't provide private services, "the department of health has already been exploring a number of options to ensure Tasmanians continue to have access to private healthcare".
Ms Petrusma said this included discussions with other private providers.
"Should Healthscope exit the market, it is our expectation the federal government will assist with any financial support that may be required."
Written by Jano Gibson, ABC News.
Healthscope, which runs more than three dozen hospitals across the country, insists the appointment of McGrathNicol as receivers will have no impact on jobs, doctors or patient care.
"All 37 of our hospitals continue to operate as normal and today's appointment of receivers, including additional funding, ensures a stable path to a sale, with no impact on any hospitals, staff or patients," Healthscope chief executive Tino La Spina said.
The receivership does not affect Healthscope's operational division, which runs the hospitals, but instead relates to the company's non-operating shareholding entities.
"Our immediate focus is to engage constructively with all key stakeholders to ensure uninterrupted operation of Healthscope hospitals and continuity of best practice standards of patient care," receiver Keith Crawford from McGrathNicol said.
"We will also work closely with Healthscope management to support any operational funding requirements via access to $100 million of new funding from Commonwealth Bank while we pursue an orderly transition of ownership of Healthscope's hospitals."
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Mr La Spina ruled out any job losses or closures.
In Tasmania, the company runs the Hobart Private Hospital, which has almost 150 beds.
The facility treats more than 20,000 patients each year and employs about 600 people, according to its website.
Speaking ahead of the news breaking, the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) told ABC Radio Hobart it was deeply concerned about the latest developments, following the company's announcement earlier this year to shut its maternity services in Hobart and Darwin.
"We are writing to [the] Healthscope CEO and the Tasmanian Minister for Health, seeking urgent information and assurances with regard to the ongoing operation of Healthscope hospitals," ANMF Tasmanian branch acting secretary Phoebe Mansell said.
"But members are disappointed that they are hearing about this through the media as they did when midwifery services were removed."
Ms Mansell said it was essential the hospital remains open.
"So our focus now will be really working hard with state and federal governments and stakeholders to try and keep Healthscope hospitals open.
"Of course, we'll also be looking to try and protect the jobs and entitlements of our members working in those facilities, but particularly for us, the Hobart Private."
State 'can't afford' to lose hospital, Federal MP says
Independent federal MP Andrew Wilkie, who is based in Hobart, said the state's health system "would collapse" if the private hospital were to close.
"The Tasmanian government needs to get out there today and tell us what it is doing and what contingency plans it is putting in place, and would it even entertain the idea of buying the private [hospital] back and rolling it into the public health system?
"Because we just can't afford to lose that hospital.
The Tasmanian government owns the building where the private hospital is located but has leased it out since 1998.
Tasmanian government 'working on contingencies'
Jacquie Petrusma says, should Healthscope "exit the market", the state government expects the "federal government will assist with any financial support". (ABC News: Luke Bowden)
Tasmania's Minister for Health Jacquie Petrusma said the government was "actively working on contingencies" to ensure Tasmanians would continue being able to access "the private healthcare they pay for".
"We recognise the uncertainty this situation is bringing to staff and patients," Ms Petrusma said.
She said, in the event Healthscope couldn't provide private services, "the department of health has already been exploring a number of options to ensure Tasmanians continue to have access to private healthcare".
Ms Petrusma said this included discussions with other private providers.
"Should Healthscope exit the market, it is our expectation the federal government will assist with any financial support that may be required."
Written by Jano Gibson, ABC News.
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