Savings From Tasmanian Health Moves

The state government says its decision to stop searching for a new Mental Health boss will save taxpayers money.

The Examiner revealed yesterday that the Health Department dumped its search to replace John Crawshaw, who resigned as chief executive of Statewide and Mental Health Services in October last year. Advertisements were printed for a new chief executive, but Department of Health and Human Services deputy secretary Alice Burchill confirmed at the weekend that the recruitment process had since been abandoned.

She repeated yesterday that the decision had been made in light of national health reforms, which were signed up to in August and begin on July 1.

"Statewide and Mental Health Services will progressively transition during 2012-13 to the new Tasmanian Health Organisations,'' Ms Burchill said.

"As stated previously, because of this significant and fundamental structural change, the recruitment process . . . has ceased to allow the structural changes to be finalised before any future leadership decisions are made.

"This is prudent and cost effective for taxpayers and means every available resource can be put towards front-line services.''

She rejected claims from the Health and Community Services Union that the state was hiding behind national reforms, and had failed to adequately inform the sector of changes.

"This (national reform) has been clearly conveyed to staff, unions and the public for many months, and has been communicated through the media,'' Ms Burchill said.

"It is not true to say that it is unclear how THOs will operate post July 1, 2012. In fact, the Tasmanian Parliament passed the Tasmanian Health Organisation Act 2011 on November 24, which clearly sets out the roles and responsibilities of the new THOs. "Reforms are being implemented as per the legislation.''

Nick Goddard will remain acting chief executive.

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