Our hospital continues to absorb the repercussions of a shortage of crisis accommodation in the north of the state.
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On Tuesday a parliamentary hearing into acute health services was told three teenagers were admitted to Launceston General Hospital’s paedeatrics ward in the past six months because there was no other suitable accommodation.
That’s three beds that were not being used or could potentially be used for those who were sick.
The subcommittee was formed to inquire into the resourcing of Tasmania’s major hospitals to deliver acute health services including mental health services.
In particular it will look at state demand for acute health services, factors impacting the capacity of hospitals to meet current and projected demand for those services and funding arrangements at both a state and federal level.
The inquiry will also examine the level of engagement with the private sector and what could be contributing to adverse patient outcomes in the delivery of acute health services.
Unfortunately it wasn’t that surprising to hear the beds had been used for crisis accommodation.
Thankfully those beds were available for the youth who were desperate. For the youth who deserve better for what they were experiencing in life at that moment.
Back in 2015 the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation highlighted a critical shortage in community services in Tasmania.
At the time, the ANMF said Tasmanians who had been successfully treated for mental health services were ending up homeless or trapped in hospital wards because of a critical shortage in community services.
The ANMF said young people in particular were languishing in acute health settings for many months because there was no where else for them to go.
Fast forward two years and it’s the same problem, but in reverse.
This revelation should not be a reflection on the LGH. It’s an ongoing issue with the Human Services department.
The results are directly impacting our health department, which is constantly under pressure and scrutiny.
Let’s forget popular politics, election cycles and blame games. Instead, we call on all politicians to work together to achieve the results we need urgently for our state.