The Hodgman Government has walked away from its commitment to work with all sides of politics, health professionals, unions and other stakeholders to work on solutions to the health crisis.
Labor’s . The Parliament then . It required the Government to convene roundtables with key players in health and all political parties – yet six months on, there has been no action.
“What should have been a positive step forward for health professionals and patients has instead become a reminder of the Liberals’ complete inability to solve the health crisis,” Labor Leader Rebecca White said.
“Everyone knows there’s a health crisis in Tasmania but the Government blunders on and refuses any offer to help solve the challenges our health system is being put under.
“Those voices are being ignored by Premier Hodgman and Minister Ferguson.”
Last year Ms White wrote to Premier Hodgman offering to work constructively to solve the health crisis, putting forward 10 suggestions including:
- Staffing pharmacy, radiology, medical imaging and allied health after hours and on weekends to improve discharge processes and free up beds
- Listening to the solutions proposed by workers at the LGH to solve bed block
- Immediately addressing the annual $100 million black hole in health identified in the Government’s own report
- Releasing crucial reports into the health system by KPMG and Deloitte
- Dramatically ramping up preventative health measures and programs
- Invest in 10 mother and baby unit beds statewide
- Provide funding for capital works at Millbrook Rise to provide a step-down mental health facility
- Appoint permanent psychiatric emergency nurses statewide
“The Liberals’ health crisis has only gotten worse over the past 12 months,” Ms White said.
“The 2018-19 Budget contained $111 million less for health and hospitals than was spent in the previous financial year.
“Premier Hodgman and Minister Ferguson are not listening and continue to underfund health – and it is Tasmanian patients and their families who are suffering.”
Rebecca White MP
Labor Leader
