The more than 12,000 Tasmanians languishing on lists waiting for necessary surgery cannot again be let down by the Gutwein Government and newly minted Health Minister Jeremy Rockliff after today’s significant promise to clear the elective surgery backlog.
Acting Labor Leader Anita Dow said it was deeply troubling that the Liberals had announced today that they would only now start recruiting for specialist staff to perform surgeries after seven years during which they allowed waiting lists to blow out to unacceptable and unsustainable levels.
“Tasmanians who have been waiting for necessary procedures – in many cases for years – will be anxiously looking forward to Mr Rockliff announcing when he has finally recruited doctors and when they can now look forward to receiving treatment,” Ms Dow said.
“Mr Rockliff has made a significant promise today to deliver 20,000 more elective surgeries and more than 2,300 extra endoscopies over the next four years and now he must follow through and keep Tasmanians informed.
“Tasmanians want to know when staff are recruited, when they will start working in the state’s hospitals and when patients will start receiving crucial procedures. It’s important also that this recruitment process creates permanent jobs in our health system as an immediate step.
“The concerns of both patients and our hard working health workers who have been speaking out about the health crisis for years must be addressed.
“They have had enough of the broken promises and they do not want more roundtables, they do not want more meetings – they require urgent action now.
“The health and well-being of Tasmanians and access to health care is paramount and they expect Mr Rockliff and Mr Gutwein to deliver after seven years of failing to deliver.”
Anita Dow MP
Acting Labor Leader
