Subject : IDIOTIC "SILO" MENTALITY IN DHHS COSTS MONEY AND REDUCES SERVICES
Author : Jacquie Petrusma MP
The idiotic silo mentality in the Department of Health and Human Services is costing the state millions, and reducing services to Tasmania's most vulnerable. A prime example is the situation at Eskleigh. It's costing the State Government $547,500 per annum to keep just one person with disability in hospital, when it would cost the Government just $76,280 per resident per annum at Eskleigh.
If the relevant Ministers Cassy O'Connor and Michelle O'Byrne were to work together, they'd both end up winners. Ms O'Byrne could free up beds at the Launceston General Hospital, which is like a pressure-cooker, and Ms O'Connor could get another three people off the 59-long waiting list for people with disabilities waiting for group home accommodation.
Instead, Ms O'Connor is saying it's not her problem that people are stuck in hospital; she's only responsible for the disability budget. And Minister O'Byrne is saying it's not her fault if there's nowhere to move people out of hospital. The fact is they're both to blame for continuing to allow this idiotic silo mentality in the Department to continue.
At a time when the Government is crying poor, it has the chance to save $1.4 million per annum by transferring just three suitable patients from hospital to fill three vacancies at Eskleigh.
Instead of insular thinking about their individual budgets, the Ministers must work together for a solution while also carefully considering their moral responsibility to properly care for the state's most vulnerable people.
Author : Jacquie Petrusma MP
The idiotic silo mentality in the Department of Health and Human Services is costing the state millions, and reducing services to Tasmania's most vulnerable. A prime example is the situation at Eskleigh. It's costing the State Government $547,500 per annum to keep just one person with disability in hospital, when it would cost the Government just $76,280 per resident per annum at Eskleigh.
If the relevant Ministers Cassy O'Connor and Michelle O'Byrne were to work together, they'd both end up winners. Ms O'Byrne could free up beds at the Launceston General Hospital, which is like a pressure-cooker, and Ms O'Connor could get another three people off the 59-long waiting list for people with disabilities waiting for group home accommodation.
Instead, Ms O'Connor is saying it's not her problem that people are stuck in hospital; she's only responsible for the disability budget. And Minister O'Byrne is saying it's not her fault if there's nowhere to move people out of hospital. The fact is they're both to blame for continuing to allow this idiotic silo mentality in the Department to continue.
At a time when the Government is crying poor, it has the chance to save $1.4 million per annum by transferring just three suitable patients from hospital to fill three vacancies at Eskleigh.
Instead of insular thinking about their individual budgets, the Ministers must work together for a solution while also carefully considering their moral responsibility to properly care for the state's most vulnerable people.
Authorised by Jonathan Hawkes, Level 2/24 Murray Street, Hobart TAS 7000
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