Courtney must come clean on Mersey ED

Tasmanian Labor
  • Ambulances continue to be directed to Launceston instead of Mersey
  • Despite the government’s promises, Mersey ED is not fully operational
  • Sarah Courtney must commit to restoring Mersey ED to 24-hour operation
  • Sarah Courtney must explain why ambulances called to patients east of Latrobe continue to be directed to Launceston instead of the Mersey Community Hospital.

    Deputy Labor Leader, Michelle O’Byrne, said despite the government’s promises, it was clear the Mersey’s emergency department was not fully operational.

    “The government announced the Mersey Community Hospital’s emergency department was to finally resume 24-hour operation at the end of November, but less than two months later it seems this is not the case,” Ms O’Byrne said.

    “We currently have ambulances that are called to patients east of Latrobe being directed to the Launceston General Hospital instead of the Mersey, which is putting more pressure on an already over stretched LGH.

    “We’ve seen a horrendous start to 2021 with ambulance ramping across the state at dangerously high levels.

    “On Friday afternoon, nine ambulances were ramped at the LGH and with only four ambulances based in Launceston, five were from other regions – most likely the north west – meaning those communities were left without their local ambulance.

    “The Health Minister Sarah Courtney promised in October to fix this and she must now be honest with Tasmanians and commit to restoring the Mersey to full operation.

    “When it comes to access to the highest quality health care, Labor will keep fighting for the North West Coast to make sure our regional health system including the Mersey Community Hospital is able to provide Tasmanians with the health care they need.”

    Michelle O’Byrne MP

    Deputy Labor Leader

    /Public Release. View in full here.