More than 40 per cent of Tasmanians who present to hospital emergency departments are not seen on time as the state again records the worst record in the nation according to the Productivity Commission’s Report on Government Services.
The report released today reveals the true depth of the crisis in the state’s emergency departments after eight years of the Liberal Government failing to provide adequate frontline staff and resources to provide health care to Tasmanians who need it.
Shadow Health Minister Anita Dow said at the same time patients are being forced to wait for treatment, presentations to emergency departments are well below the national average, making a mockery of the Gutwein Government’s repeated claims that the health and hospital system is in crisis because of increased demand.
“It’s appalling that only 49 per cent of urgent cases that present to emergency departments are seen on time in Tasmania,” Ms Dow said.
“These figures show the situation is continuing to deteriorate alarmingly – comparatively last year 58 per cent of urgent patients were seen on time and Tasmania’s rate compares to a national average of 63 per cent.
“Overall, just 58 per cent of all emergency department patients are seen on time, compared to 65 per cent last year and compared to the national average of 71 per cent.
“The percentage of patients presenting to EDs discharged within four hours is just 58 per cent, well below the national average and well down on the 68 per cent when the Liberals came to power eight years ago.
“In addition the ROGS shows the just how extraordinary the situation continues to be around elective surgery with Tasmanians waiting, for instance, 631 days for a hip replacement and 731 days for a knee replacement.
“No amount of spin or bluster from this Premier and his Health Minister Jeremy Rockliff is going to disguise the fact that emergency departments are at an unacceptable tipping point, staff at the frontline have not been resourced and are exhausted and Tasmanians are simply being forced to live in pain.
“If Mr Gutwein and Mr Rockliff care to challenge these facts, I’m sure those Tasmanians working in the system or waiting for treatment would be interested to hear that.
“If they care to own up to the crisis, they should at the same time tell Tasmanians what their plan is to fix it.”
Anita Dow MP
Shadow Health Minister
