The Rockliff-Ferguson government’s announcement of 24/7 operating hours for the Huonville ambulance station is nowhere near enough to support our paramedics or to improve Tasmanians access to emergency health care.
While the addition of four paramedics and the extension of the station’s operating hours will be welcome in the Huon region, it is a drop in the ocean compared to what is needed to lift ambulance response times around the state and to ease pressure on our overstretched paramedics.
Ambulance response times in Tasmania are the worst in the country. In fact ambulance waiting times in Tasmania have increased by 30 per cent since the Liberals were elected.
This increase in waiting times is through no fault of our dedicated paramedics, who work under extreme pressure every shift due to under-resourcing.
They need effective support and resourcing to do their jobs safely and for Tasmanians to receive timely emergency care.
We regularly hear from people in regional areas about local ambulances being diverted to attend emergencies outside their communities, sometimes leaving vulnerable patients waiting for treatment for hours.
Labor has been calling for years for better resourcing, including 24/7 ambulance stations around the state, to give better support to our paramedics and volunteer paramedics and to improve emergency services for all Tasmanians.
The Rockliff-Ferguson government needs to outline its plan to invest in our paramedics and ambulance stations and commit to providing a comprehensive 24/7 ambulance service in all regions of Tasmania, not just one area about to go to a Legislative Council election.
Tasmanians need better leadership when it comes to emergency services and it’s time the Rockliff-Ferguson Government showed some heart and delivered.
Anita Dow MP
Shadow Health Minister
