The
Rockliff Ferguson Government’s long overdue and barely sufficient move to
address Tasmania’s GP crisis is too little, too late.
After
almost a decade of neglect, solving the health crisis in regional and rural
Tasmania is going to take much, much more than the Premier announcing the
latest recipients of an existing after hours grants program.
Providing
greater resources to allow Tasmanians to receive medical care when they need it
and where they live should have been a priority before now.
The
lack of response over the past two terms of this Liberal government has placed
an overwhelming burden on Tasmanian hospitals, GPs and the ambulance service.
The
Premier’s “announcement” today – on the eve of a federal election – is an
inadequate attempt to play catch up on a situation that is a direct result of
the Liberals failure to deliver when it comes to better access to health care
for all Tasmanians.
Labor
has been clear that pressure would be eased if the government was willing to
make further investments in regional health, including placing nurse
practitioners after hours in regional hospitals to provide better care to
Tasmanians and support general practice.
The government’s refusal to fund this initiative is placing an unnecessary burden on an already over-burdened health and hospital system and is indicative of the Rockliff Ferguson Government’s failure to simply get the basics right.
Anita Dow MP
Shadow Health Minister
