The long overdue release of the review into Tasmania’s emergency departments is further evidence that there is no more time to waste in implementing its recommendations.

The review has confirmed that hospital emergency departments are unable to keep up with existing demand, much less projected demand into the future.

Demand is growing across the health system by 30 beds a year, but only 15 beds were added during the past nine months.

It is clear that without immediate action hospital staff and patients will continue to face enormous pressure and delays in getting the health care they need, with health outcomes set to worsen as a result.

The Health Minister Guy Barnett had to be forced by Parliament to undertake this review, but despite committing to delivering an action plan by 15 December last year, Mr Barnett has only released the review today.

The Liberals cannot continue to blame the Federal Government for the health crisis while not doing everything they can to fix it – especially when eight-and-a-half out of the 10 years they have been government have been under a federal Liberal government.

The fact is that they are in State Government and they need to act without further delay.

Ella Haddad MP  
Shadow Health Minister