Older, sicker and left waiting in pain – Tasmania’s health system in crisis

Tasmania has Australia’s oldest and sickest population, yet Eric Abetz is cutting $700 million from health.

The Australasian College for Emergency Medicine’s State of Emergency report revealed Tasmanians are waiting the longest in the country to be admitted to hospital, with Tasmania performing well below the national average.

The number of older people presenting to Tasmanian emergency departments increased by 19 per cent between 2018–19 and 2023–24, compared with just two per cent for younger patients. Older people now account for more than half of all presentations.

The report highlights the failure to move patients who need hospital admission out of emergency departments and into beds quickly, leaving vulnerable older Tasmanians waiting in pain in corridors and waiting rooms for the care they need, despite the outstanding efforts of our dedicated healthcare professionals.

The Tasmanian Government is responsible for our public hospital system. It cannot keep pointing the finger at the Federal Government while patients languish in pain waiting for care. Health Minister Archer must do more to ensure there are enough hospital beds, staff and resources to meet projected growing demand. 

The report makes a number of recommendations to address these pressures, but how can the Liberals deliver meaningful improvements while $700 million in Abetz health cuts remain on the table?

As Tasmania’s ageing population places increasing pressure on the health system, Eric Abetz and Minister Archer should be investing in better care, not cutting $700 million from the health system.

Tasmanians expect a health system that can meet their needs and deliver safe, timely and dignified care.

Tasmanians shouldn’t face reduced access to healthcare because of 13 years of Liberal Government waste.

Health Minister Archer needs to explain how she will improve wait times and patient care while allowing Eric Abetz to cut $700 million from the health system.