The minority Liberal government continues to fail Tasmanians, with more reports of bed block at the Launceston General Hospital this week leaving northerners without access to emergency health care, and overworked health workers under increasing stress.
Tasmanian Labor understands that the LGH emergency department has been gridlocked at times this week, with wards at the hospital full and two wards closed completely for periods amid significant staff shortages.
The LGH has the worst bed block in the country, and the latest health dashboard data shows fewer than half of all emergency department patients are seen within four hours, with ambulances regularly backed up and paramedics being rostered to the ramp.
The Rockliff government’s failure to make any improvements to our ailing health system has left Tasmanians suffering and unable to access timely health care, which is completely unacceptable.
At the same time, our dedicated health workers are at breaking point as they deal with growing pressure, while this tired government sits on its hands after 10 years of watching this crisis unfold, and no plan to fix it.
Only Labor has a plan to begin to fix the systemic issues in the health system, starting with a more than $60 million investment across the state to expand services at our 18 district hospitals and health centres.
This will be underpinned by a $28.4 million workforce plan, to employ 18 rural generalist doctors and more nurse practitioners, nurses, allied health professionals and paramedics to support our regional communities.
Tasmanians deserve access to timely health care closer to where they live and a Labor Government will make this a priority.
Anita Dow MP
Shadow Minister for Health, Mental Health, and Wellbeing
