The Tasmanian Minister for Health, Michelle O'Byrne, has announced that a new lead clinicians group and a community advisory body would be formed to help ensure Tasmania's health system responded to the needs of the community.

 

Ms O'Byrne said with national reforms now underway and the Tasmanian Health Organisations in place, these bodies would play a vital role in health care delivery.

 

"There are significant reforms underway in how health is delivered, leading to greater local control and local decision making.

 

"Tasmanians now have more information, more involvement and more control over how health is delivered than ever before.

 

"We will engage directly with clinicians and consumers to ensure we are taking all perspectives into account as we deliver health services.

 

Ms O'Byrne said she had also discussed potential membership and scope of the Federal Commission into the Tasmanian Delivery of Health Services with the Federal Health Minister, Tanya Plibersek, this week.

 

"The lead clinicians group will inform the work of the commission agreed to under the Federal Government's $325 million health funding package.

 

"The Tasmanian Health Plan has delivered much for our health system during the past five years, and these groups will engage with the review of the plan as we work together to respond to the changing nature of our health system under national reforms," Ms O'Byrne said.