Australian Medical Association - Tasmania

20/02/2026

AMA Tasmania has raised serious concerns regarding a pilot to allow paramedics to prescribe. Branch President Dr Michael Lumsden-Steel said the proposal risks fragmenting care and overlooks the critical role of general practice.

Prescribing comes from making a diagnosis, documenting, treating and following up. That level of care sits within general practice, where doctors train for many years to manage complexity and provide continuity.

Paramedics are highly skilled and respected, but expanding prescribing risks replacing quality and safety with convenience rather than addressing the real issues.

What we need, particularly in regional areas, is stronger networks where GPs support community care, not further fragmentation of the system.

The AMA Tasmania President, Dr Michael Lumsden-Steel, said the Liberal Government’s commitment to a pilot allowing prescribing of medications by paramedics must not proceed without clear evidence and meaningful consultation with the medical profession.This proposal has emerged as part of a politic...

20/02/2026

A very warm welcome to all the first year medical students we have had the pleasure of meeting this week. Starting medicine is a huge milestone and it has been a privilege to meet so many thoughtful and motivated future doctors at the beginning of their journey. We wish you every success as you settle into study, new routines and new friendships.

Remember this is a marathon, not a sprint. The health system will be ready for you when the time comes, so for now focus on learning, building strong foundations and finding balance. Look after yourselves and enjoy the friendships and experiences that will shape your years ahead.

Student membership with the AMA is free and a great way to stay connected with your profession from the very beginning. Join HERE - https://bit.ly/StudentAMA

We also encourage you to join Tasmanian University Medical Students' Society (TUMSS) here in Tasmania. The TUMSS President holds a seat on AMA Tasmania State Council, ensuring student voices are represented and helping keep us informed about the issues that matter most to you.

Please also remember Drs4Drs Tasmania is available as a confidential health and mental health service for medical students and doctors, because your wellbeing matters.

Welcome to the profession. We are so glad you are here and look forward to supporting you along the way.

13/02/2026

A proud moment to share. In December last year, our Vice President Dr Meg Creely had the honour of presenting the Australian Medical Association (AMA) Prize (M03) to Maxwell Powell.

This prestigious prize recognises exceptional academic achievement, awarded to the student who achieves the highest overall result across all final-year medical examinations.

Congratulations, Max, on this well‑deserved recognition, an incredible achievement and a bright future ahead.

06/02/2026

MEDIA RELEASE: The Australian Medical Association welcomes the announcement that Healthscope hospitals will continue to operate, with the sale and transfer of six hospitals and the remaining 31 to operate under a new not-for-profit structure.

AMA President Dr Danielle McMullen labelled the plan — announced by receivers McGrathNichol — a good outcome for patients, Healthscope staff, doctors and private health insurers.

Read more: https://www.ama.com.au/media/ama-welcomes-plan-keep-healthscope-hospitals-running

05/02/2026

Medics believe the Royal Hobart Hospital needs to move out of its CBD block and a Defence site sell-off is an open door to kick off a conversation. Here’s where the hospital could move to 👉 https://bit.ly/4aw0Squ

02/02/2026

Tasmania needs a modern hospital to support its population. The data clearly shows us that the Royal Hobart Hospital's old infrastructure is not meeting current needs. Building a new hospital close to the current site to improve patient care and efficiency will help address ongoing healthcare issues and ideally lead to cost savings in the long run.

Doctors and nurses say the government’s $520m upgrades at the Royal Hobart Hospital will not meet Tasmania’s future health needs. Read what they want 🏥👉 https://bit.ly/4keKmOX

01/02/2026

The AMA and aged care sector has questioned Tasmania’s $700m hospital funding boost as inadequate, warning patients face continued delays and staff burnout. 👉 https://bit.ly/3MeobMkhave

30/01/2026

The AMA Tasmania welcomes today's announcement of additional national health funding for Tasmania. This is a positive step; however, it does not change the reality on the ground.

While the funding announcement will help reset current base funding levels, it fails to address the decades of underinvestment in health infrastructure, technology, healthcare innovation and reform, competitive recruitment, retention, or training of our healthcare workforce.

We urgently need investment in hospital capacity, medical staffing, diagnostics, patient flow, and critical infrastructure.

The unresolved backlog of unread X-rays shows the risks of delaying essential clinical spending.

The immense workforce pressure shows the cost of under-investing in safe staffing.

The crushed morale shows a system that failed to back its staff.

All quotes can be attributed to the AMA Tasmania President, Dr Michael Lumsden-SteelThe AMA Tasmania welcomes today's announcement of additional national health funding for Tasmania. This is a positive step; however, it does not change the reality on the ground. While the funding announcement will h...

30/01/2026

Congratulations to our 2026 Interns on reaching this next stage of your medical career. Our 2026 Intern Guide provides essential support and guidance to help you navigate your first weeks as an intern and begin your career as a doctor.

29/01/2026

A fundamental transformation in the way health data is managed is needed if Australia is to meet the health challenges of an ageing population, changing disease patterns and increasingly complex health conditions.

Today we launched a report highlighting the inherent dangers in Australia’s isolated and incompatible digital health systems, which lead to delays in patient care and poorer health outcomes.

Read the full release: https://www.ama.com.au/media/fundamental-change-needed-data-management-meet-health-challenges