Mersey update

Lamp, The, July, 2008

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Staff at Tasmania's Mersey Hospital have been advised by Federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon that transitional arrangements at the hospital will continue until August.

The Federal Government has still not revealed a management model for the hospital, making it difficult for staff to make decisions about their own futures.

A new independent operator for the hospital is due to be announced next month following the Howard government's decision to take control of the facility from the Tasmanian State Government last year.

Ms Roxon said she still couldn't reveal anything about the Federal Government's plans because of commercial confidentiality issues but she expects to finalise the situation soon.

Ms Roxon informed hospital staff last month of the continuing arrangements so that staff were not put in the 'awkward position of being asked to make a choice without knowing who [their] future provider might be'.