The former Labor government’s $325 million Tasmanian Health Assistance Package allowed for 18 Emergency Medical Unit beds at the Launceston General Hospital and Royal Hobart Hospital, capacity to manage 5000 Tasmanians with chronic care needs, specialist palliative care positions, psychiatric emergency nurses, slow stream rehab beds and clinical redesign.

The Emergency Medical Unit Beds were split between the LGH and RHH with the hospitals getting eight and 10 beds respectively. Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation state secretary Neroli Ellis credited the beds with helping emergency patients stay off trolleys.

Funding for that package will end June 30 this year.

Mrs Ellis said the state could lose those services or others may have to close to cover the funding shortfall.

“ANMF has made numerous submissions to increase funding to open additional capacity and beds in our public hospitals and to ensure the continuity of ongoing services following the cessation of the $325 million Tasmanian Health Assistance package on 30 June this year,” she said.

Health Minister Michael Ferguson said the government would continue to work with its federal counterparts to get the best outcomes for Tasmania.

“The Hodgman Liberal Government is committed to providing Tasmanians with higher quality health services and better outcomes, and the 2016-17 Budget will reflect this,” he said.

“With the budget back on track we can afford to reinvest more in essential services such as health.”

The ANMF and Australian Medical Association have also campaigned for more nurses in the state’s hospitals to enable the facilities to open more beds.

The state government has hired 80 more nurses in the first nine months of this financial year.