Recruitment Blitz For Doctors, Nurses Begins

Guy Barnett, Minister for Health

The State’s biggest ever recruitment blitz is underway, searching for Tasmania’s newest doctors, nurses, paramedics and allied health professionals.

The Tasmanian Liberal Government has launched its recruitment campaign across the State, delivering on key parts of its 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania’s Future.

Minister for Health, Mental Health and Wellbeing, Guy Barnett, welcomed the campaign at the Launceston General Hospital where the Government is working to double the capacity of the Emergency Department.

“During the election, we announced that we would recruit more doctors and nurses for our Emergency Departments in Tasmania’s hospitals,” Minister Barnett said.

“I’m excited that just 18 days into our First 100 Days, we are already seeing job advertisements for these positions, demonstrating our commitment to supporting our health workers with the resources they need.

“We are delivering a massive staff and cash injection to boost our emergency departments at the Royal Hobart Hospital, as well as the Launceston General Hospital, so that we can help ensure more patients are seen on time in the Emergency Department.

“In the North, this recruitment campaign will help support our plan to nearly double the Launceston General Hospital’s emergency department capacity. We are investing $53 million into this important project, building on our 10-year $580 million infrastructure plan for the Launceston General Hospital.

“In the South, we are recruiting an additional 44 full-time doctors and 25 full-time nurses. This additional staffing will ensure that the recently expanded RHH Emergency Department will be able to ensure it is operating to its maximum capacity, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“We know the demand on our hospital emergency departments is increasing, which is why our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania’s Future will deliver the staff and infrastructure investment Tasmanians need, so they can receive the care they need, sooner.

“The Tasmanian Liberal Government has employed more than 2,500 health care workers since 2014 – 1,390 of those are nurses.

“Now, we are going to grow the workforce even further, making Tasmania a place where health workers want to come and live, work and raise a family.

“My message to health workers – whether you are a nurse, a doctor, a paramedic or an allied health professional, is: we are recruiting, we want you, and we need you.”

/Public Release. View in full here.