Tasmania's health system cannot wait

“We have cut and cut, and this is the result. Last week, patients were double parked in corridors at Launceston General Hospital because the Emergency Department was overflowing.

“Last night, Tasmanians were asked to avoid the LGH Emergency Department unless it was a genuine emergency.

“This week, the North West Regional Hospital ICU closed because there was not enough medical workforce to staff it safely.

“Meanwhile, the Government continues to push to reduce ambulance handover times.

“For too long, the system has been asked to do more with less: cut costs, delay infrastructure, stretch the workforce, and plan for average demand instead of peak pressure.

“The result is a health system running on empty, with no surge capacity left when things go wrong.”

Tasmania needs more than finger-pointing and another short-term fix.

• We need immediate investment in health infrastructure across every region, and a long-term clinical services plan that matches the real needs of Tasmanians.
• We need stronger community-based care, so people can get support before they need hospital and leave safely when they are ready.
• We need one health system, with a single funder and a clear line of accountability.

“Patients do not care which government pays the bill, whether a bed is funded by the State or the Commonwealth, or whether the blockage is in hospital, aged care or community care.

“They just need a health system that is there when they need it.”>>>ENDS