As part of its pre-election commitments the Tasmanian Liberal Government committed to fund an independent feasibility study into a purpose-built hospice for Northern Tasmania, located in Launceston. Grosvenor Management Consulting was engaged by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to undertake this feasibility study.

The study was conducted to determine the need for a dedicated hospice service in Northern Tasmania and examined a range of factors, including, but not limited to:

• current, unmet and future demand for hospice care in Northern Tasmania
• existing hospice and palliative care services in the region
• the capacity of existing services to meet the community need and demand.

Alternative service delivery models for the provision of palliative care in Northern Tasmania were identified and analysed against eight feasibility criteria established as part of the study.

The feasibility study was informed by extensive consultation and data collection activities and a desktop review of relevant standards, guidelines and approaches to providing palliative care. Consultation activities were conducted in two phases in November 2015 and January 2016, with input received from numerous health professionals, community members, interest groups and professional bodies.

Palliative care and hospice services delivered in the North West and South were not within the scope of this study.

The report presents twelve conclusions and eight recommendations, describing a number of possible options in relation to hospice services in Northern Tasmania.