Labor, nurses and health professionals have called on the Hodgman Minority Government to introduce new escalation protocols at the Launceston General Hospital to assist staff and patients in times of peak demand.
Shadow Health Minister Sarah Lovell said in Private Members Business this week Labor will demand Will Hodgman and Sarah Courtney to take action.
“Doctors, nurses and health professionals at the LGH are at breaking point, while the Government is asleep at the wheel,” Ms Lovell said.
“The Health Department’s Annual Report revealed at the LGH only 56 percent of all emergency department presentations are seen within the recommended time.
“The Auditor-General’s Report into the performance of Tasmania’s four major hospitals’ delivery of Emergency Department services found that the Launceston General Hospital spent 70 percent of the time between 29 June 2018 and 24 January 2019 at the highest possible level of escalation and in a state of almost constant gridlock.
“This is not good enough, despite the dedication and hard work of health workers.
“Staff at the LGH have been calling for the introduction of new escalation protocols, similar to those introduced at the Royal Hobart Hospital in 2017.
“This follows reports that pleas by LGH staff to instigate a code yellow, or internal emergency, were recently ignored by the Liberals.
“Will Hodgman and Sarah Courtney should vote with Labor on Wednesday, and introduce these protocols urgently.”
Sarah Lovell MLC – Shadow Health Minister
