Premier and Health Minister Jeremy Rockliff has some serious work to do to retain the state’s dedicated and hardworking medical specialists.
It is deeply concerning that the North of state will lose a cardiologist a week after it was revealed that a cardiothoracic surgeon in the South has called it quits.
Currently, patients categorised as urgent are waiting 264 days to receive an outpatient appointment at the Cardiology Clinic at the Launceston General Hospital. Patients then have a further wait to receive their surgery in Hobart.
Given the long wait time in the North and North-West for angiograms, this resignation is highly concerning for the thousands of Tasmanians waiting for treatment.
Premier Jeremy Rockliff has a serious problem.
The health system is getting worse under his watch and there have been a number of highly experienced health executives who have walked away from the hospital and health system.
Medical specialists are planning on taking industrial action because they are so concerned by current patient care and the need for time-critical treatment.
Ramping is out of control, with ambulances ramped for more than 30,000 hours in the nine months to March, and theatre lights at the LGH are literally being held together by stick tape.
It appears that after 10 years in office, Jeremy Rockliff and the Liberals have run out of ideas for turning around Tasmania’s health crisis.
Anita Dow MP
Shadow Minister Health
