An article by The Australian’s senior reporter Rachel Baxendale, published on 25 October 2026, reveals that Royal Hobart Hospital is offering nurses double-time pay to staff Saturday operating lists for gender-related elective surgeries, while nurses working Saturday shifts on emergency cases receive time-and-a-half.
The arrangements follow the closure of Hobart Private Hospital’s surgical services after its acquisition by Calvary, whose ethical code prohibits these procedures. The Tasmanian Government has consequently facilitated their continuation at the Royal Hobart Hospital as privately funded services.
Hospital insiders have raised concerns that the additional operating lists require theatre staff and resources that could otherwise be needed for emergency and essential surgery, particularly given Tasmania’s significant public elective surgery waiting lists. Both Health Minister Bridget Archer and the Department of Health deny that the arrangements affect public hospital capacity or the availability of emergency and essential surgery.
Women Speak Tasmania President Dr Elizabeth Caballero is quoted in the article raising serious concerns about staff allocation, resource priorities and the decision to offer double-time pay for these procedures at a time of critical workforce shortages and lengthy waiting lists for essential surgery.
READ:
Royal Hobart Hospital offers double pay for gender surgery while emergency staff get less. The Australian – https://www.theaustralian.com.au/health/medical/royal-hobart-hospital-offers-double-pay-for-gender-surgery-while-emergency-staff-get-less/news-story/20a63b28f21359fb73d6a8cd77caa0f4
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