Australian Nursing Federation state secretary Neroli Ellis yesterday detailed a list of alarming results of severe health budgets cuts at a Legislative Council committee hearing into the impact of health budget cuts.

Mrs Ellis warned hospitals were seeing the start of problems that would only get worse as the full impact of the $100 million worth of cuts was felt.

She said 35 to 40 per cent of patients listed for surgery at the Launceston General Hospital were now coming straight from the emergency department, compared to about 20 per cent in previous years.

Mrs Ellis blamed the long wait for elective surgery for turning less serious cases into urgent ones.

``They're waiting so long on the waiting list they're coming in as emergencies,'' Mrs Ellis said.

Among the problems highlighted in the union's submission were:

Anecdotal evidence suggesting more patients presenting to the emergency department after being discharged before they were ready.

The department has an annual leave liability of $60 million as staff struggle to take holidays due to shortages. Mrs Ellis said some nurses had had their leave cancelled at short notice.

An exodus of nurses to other states, including ones that had been recruited internationally.

The number of double shifts worked last year rose to 1189, contributing to a $6.8 million overtime bill.

Mrs Ellis said only 20 of the 60 cost-saving suggestions made by the union had been picked up.

She criticised the lack of a clear strategic direction behind the cuts which she said would lead to long-term cost blowouts.

Mrs Ellis said more bureaucrats and less front-line workers should go.

``At the moment it's one to three, it's all around the wrong way,'' she said.

The committee also heard from Stephen Coombes, of Revenue Protection Services, who said the department could save up to $160 million by adopting tighter business controls.