Australian Medical Association - Tasmania

01/09/2026

“Elective surgery” sounds optional. It isn’t. These are operations people need for cancer, serious pain, worsening illness, and conditions that stop them living their lives.

For Category 1 patients, the most urgent group, the target should be simple: zero people waiting too long.
Instead, Tasmania is being asked to accept that up to 30% of patients can wait beyond the clinically recommended timeframe. Never before have we accepted that. We shouldn’t start now. Lowering the target doesn’t fix the waiting list. It hides the failure.

Tasmanians deserve care on time not a health system that moves the goalposts.

01/09/2026

Picture yourself here; looking out over the garden and enjoying the company of colleagues. Join AMA Tasmania and Dr Meg Creely at Prospect House for a special Women in Medicine High Tea, bringing together our doctor members for an afternoon of conversation and conviviality, with Her Excellency the Honourable Caroline Wells, Governor of Tasmania, as our guest. Reserve your place now. - events.humanitix.com/women-in-medicine-high-tea

01/09/2026

The Tasmanian Health system is not coping and instead of the government having a plan to fix it, the bar is being lowered. Elective surgery is not “optional” for the people waiting in pain. Tasmanians deserve timely care, not delay built into the plan. https://www.ama.com.au/articles/elective-surgery-rationing-delay

29/08/2026

Dr Michael Bonning, former President of AMA NSW and a GP, has been elected as the next President of the federal Australian Medical Association at the AMA's national conference in Melbourne. The AMA's current emergency department representative Dr Sarah Whitelaw has been elected as Vice President.

Congratulations to Dr Bonning and Dr Whitelaw who will begin their roles on Monday 2 November.

28/08/2026

AMA Tasmania has raised concerns about Calvary Healthcare’s growing monopoly over private hospitals in Hobart and Launceston. President Dr Meg Creely said while having a private hospital is better than none, reduced competition could limit patient choice particularly for services such as fertility care, pregnancy-related care and termination services.

Hobart Private Hospital's sale to Catholic provider Calvary Healthcare gets approval from the corporate watchdog, despite the likely restrictions on some services.

27/08/2026

20/08/2026

Great read on the reality of rural and regional healthcare in Tasmania and nationally and the doctors working hard to keep general practice care close to home.

Rural and regional doctors are often working with limited local services, long specialist waitlists, workforce shortages and fewer supports around them. In Tasmania, those pressures are made harder by higher rates of chronic disease and the ongoing challenge of attracting and keeping doctors in smaller communities.

General practice is the front door to the health system. When GPs are supported, patients can get care earlier, stay well for longer and avoid unnecessary pressure on hospitals.

AMA Tasmania is calling for a statewide plan that looks at what health services Tasmania needs now and into the future including how we train, attract and keep the doctors and specialists our communities will need.

In smaller communities, even one GP leaving can have a big impact. Limited access to allied health, social work and other support services can leave local doctors trying to cover too many gaps.

13/08/2026

A roof securing a bike cage is a small thing that makes a big difference.

Imagine riding to work, putting your bike in the storage facility provided, working a long and busy shift, and then coming out to find your way home has been stolen. That’s why the AMA and ANMF have come together to call for urgent action on the Royal Hobart Hospital bike cage.

Staff who choose to ride to work should be able to do so knowing their bikes and belongings are secure. Practical improvements like this matter for staff safety, wellbeing, active transport and basic respect at work.

Enough is enough. Let’s fix the bike cage.

Sign the petition and support RHH staff.

09/08/2026