The Hobart Clinic offered government funding lifeline to stay open for six months

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Tasmania's only large-scale private mental health clinic has been offered a six-month funding lifeline from the state government. The 27-bed clinic was due to close its doors to patients at the end of this week.

Transcript

00:00A glimmer of hope for a crucial mental health service.

00:06The Hobart Clinic, which houses Southern Tasmania's last 27 private mental health inpatient beds,

00:13was due to close this Friday.

00:15At the eleventh hour, it's been offered a $2 million grant from the State Government.

00:20For six months, to provide the opportunity to see whether or not they may be able to make some steps forward

00:29in creating a viable operation.

00:31Over the last week, a rescue bid led by the facility's former clinical director has emerged.

00:37The Hobart Clinic says it's now considering the Government's offer and conditions attached.

00:42But the ABC has seen a staff email advising them that while the facility's decommissioning has been halted,

00:48the remaining patients will still be discharged by Thursday as previously planned.

00:54Whilst we are very happy to invest and we have found a pathway to be able to do that,

01:00it is incumbent on the Hobart Clinic to be able to make that work going forward and to make that sustainable.

01:06This is a big win for the community, the patients and the workforce who stood up against a minister

01:13who tried to say it wasn't her problem.

01:15Stand up, fight back!

01:17This follows a campaign by stakeholders to keep the clinic open.

01:21Many worry its closure would create a serious risk for the public sector.

01:26I think that what I have found alarming and what I really want to emphasise to people

01:31is that this idea that there is not help available is not right and it is also irresponsible.

01:38But patients of the facility say it has been and continues to be life saving for them.

01:45Telling media earlier in the day.

01:47I have some pretty awful side effects, really terrifying side effects when I change medications

01:53and so if that safety net is not there I will have to go to Melbourne.

01:58I didn't want to go in there but after a couple of days I know it saved me life.

02:04The Health Minister says she is continuing discussions with other private providers about entering the market

02:10and is again calling on the Federal Government to intervene in the sector

02:14to ensure that Tasmanians can access private healthcare.

02:17Josh Duggan, ABC News.

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