The Tasmanian Government thanks all those who shared their stories at the Transfer of Care Delays’ inquiry this week.
Minister for Health, Guy Barnett, said we know there are pressures on Tasmania’s major hospitals and these challenges are being felt across the world.
“The Rockliff Liberal Government is committed to doing what matters for Tasmanians to ensure they have access to the health infrastructure and workforce the State needs,” Minister Barnett said.
“Our Government is increasing the number of beds available at our hospitals to ensure Tasmanians can get access to healthcare when they need it, despite the transfer of care delays caused by the Federal Government’s lack of appropriate placements for aged care and NDIS participants,” Minister Barnett said.
“We have opened and staffed an additional 237 beds across the State since 2018, and this investment is continuing,” Minister Barnett said.
“Pleasingly, our long-term plan to increase hospital beds is working with Tasmania already well above the national average at 2.93 beds for every 1000 people.”
In the past nine years, the Rockliff LIberal Government has increased Ambulance Tasmania’s workforce by 82 per cent.
“This Liberal Government is boosting our health workforce to ensure Tasmanians get access to the healthcare they deserve,” Minister Barnett said.
“We have a strong focus on growing our regional workforce, with the 2022-23 State Budget committing $6.6 million to employ additional paramedics in Sorell and Hounville.
“This will build on the additional 48 paramedics we deployed across the State from 2021-22, which included the establishment of new 24 hour crews in Launceston and Hobart, as well as providing 24 paramedics across our rural and regional stations.”
To match this important investment in the workforce, the Rockliff Liberal Government is also delivering state-of-the-art health infrastructure.
“We are building two super ambulance stations at Burnie and Glenorchy. We have already opened new ambulance stations at Bridgewater, Beaconsfield and Queenstown,” Minister Barnett said.
“We are building a new helipad at the Launceston General Hospital, upgrading the Mersey Community Hospital, redeveloping the Royal Hobart Hospital, and building new mental health precincts at the North West Regional Hospital and St John’s Park.”
The Tasmanian Liberal Government has boosted the workforce at our major public hospitals by more than 17 per cent in the past three years.
“Our Government is investing in the health workforce Tasmania needs to access the right care, at the right place, at the right time,” Minister Barnett said.
“Tasmania’s emergency departments do an incredible job looking after our community in times of need, and I am proud we have been able to increase ED staff by 19 per cent since 2019-20.”
Building the workforce is a key focus for the Government, with $15.7 million committed to support the implementation of the Health Workforce 2040 strategy.
The Rockliff Liberal Government is investing more than $8 million a day in our health system because that’s what matters to Tasmanians.
