The re-elected Rockliff Liberal Government is getting on with the job of undertaking the State’s biggest-ever paramedic recruitment blitz.
The Liberals’ 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania’s Future is all about taking action right now on issues affecting Tasmanians, including health.
Minister for Health, Mental Health and Wellbeing, Guy Barnett, said that during the election, the Liberals’ announced that we will recruit a total of 78 new paramedics – 51 new full-time paramedics over the next two years, and 27 community paramedics over the next four years.
“We are getting straight back to work by re-doubling our recruitment efforts so that we can bolster our paramedic workforce, and ensure Tasmanians can receive the care they need, sooner.
“As Minister, I have tasked the Department to immediately commence planning for the recruitment blitz, including advertisements nationally, and internationally.
“Along with the additional 44 ED doctors and 25 ED nurses at the Royal Hobart Hospital announced during the campaign, this will help back-in our Plan to end ambulance ramping across the State.
“Our Government has made it clear that we will provide the resources necessary to improve patient flow throughout our hospitals, starting with more paramedics.
“Under the Tasmanian Liberal Government, funding to Ambulance Tasmania has tripled and we have employed an additional 220 paramedics and dispatch officers.
“A further 78 paramedics will go a long way to helping improve response times.
“Our paramedics are real-life heroes who can be the difference between life and death.”
51 full time paramedics will be recruited over the next two years to work in key demand areas, including 12 in Hobart and 12 in Glenorchy, 12 in Launceston/West Tamar, six in Cygnet, six in Snug, and three in Smithton.
To accommodate our extra paramedics, and meet community demand, we will also build a further four new ambulance stations at Legana, Cygnet, Snug, and King Island.
These stations follow the Government’s previous commitment to build six new Ambulance stations in rural and regional areas including Bridgewater, Beaconsfield, Queenstown, Bicheno, Oatlands and Longford – three of which are now completed.
