The North West Maternity (Employee Entitlements) Bill 2023 has today passed the Legislative Council.
This important Bill will support a smooth transition for healthcare workers from the North West Private Hospital to the Tasmanian State Service, by ensuring staff maintain their entitlements and are not disadvantaged by the move to the public system.
Minister for Health, Guy Barnett, said the Government was delivering the maternity services needed on the North West by transitioning to a public model from December 2023.
“We have been listening to the community and that’s why we brought the transition of services from the private hospital to the Tasmanian Health Service forward from the initial date of November 2024,” Minister Barnett said.
This change means all elements of the maternity service – including inpatient, birthing, clinics, and community midwifery services – will be available through the public system by the end of this year.
Minister Barnett said the effective transfer of employees from the North West Private Hospital to the Tasmanian State Service is vital to the continuity of maternity services for the region.
“We value the skills and expertise of the maternity services workforce and recognise the importance of their expertise to deliver safe and high-quality healthcare to the North West region,” Minister Barnett said.
“That’s why we are formalising through legislation the process to transfer their employment to the Tasmanian State Service.
“No employee who transfers to the Tasmanian State Service will be disadvantaged; they will maintain their entitlements, including annual and personal leave, long service leave, and years of continuous service.”
This legislation is a key element of the broader North West Maternity Services Transition Project. The Project Team is working hard to ensure all elements of the transition are progressing as planned.
“Ensuring safety and high-quality care to mothers and babies across the North West is a high priority for our Government, and we know the new services will be well positioned to achieve this,” Minister Barnett said.
“We will continue to work closely with HealtheCare and the North West Private Hospital throughout this process to facilitate the transition.”
