Tasmania ranks among worst performing states in public hospital report card

Planned surgery wait times are now longest on record across the country, while emergency departments remain "strangled" by bed block.

The AMA has written to all health ministers on the matter and said the findings highlighted the need for governments to take further action to address the issues impacting hospitals.

Tasmania moved out of last place in two metrics by improving results in both triage category two (emergency) and median planned surgery waiting times.

But the state still remains one of the worst performing states overall, sitting below the national average in all four key performance sectors.

Tasmania's ability to treat and discharge emergency department patients within the recommended timeframe is also "well below average".

Only 44 per cent of category three (urgent) patients were seen within the recommended timeframe, falling from the 66 per cent figure of ten years ago.

Tasmania's performance sits near the bottom of the scorecard when it comes to the "four-hour rule", with 51 per cent of ED visits completed within four hours or less.

AMA Tasmania president John Saul said the results highlight areas that demand urgent attention.

"We know that the ongoing decline in performance is affecting the morale of our doctors and their healthcare colleagues; poses a risk to the reputation of Tasmania's healthcare system; and potentially hinders urgently needed recruitment efforts," Dr Saul said.

"Although bed and access blocks aren't the sole obstacles, they represent significant challenges within the public system.

"More than cosmetic improvements and masterplans will be required; we require systemic changes for long-term efficiency and sustainability."

Health Minister Guy Barnett said he recognised there was work to do, and the health system needed to be better.

"Since taking over from Labor and the Greens in 2014, we've delivered an additional 298 hospital beds and employed an extra 2,500 health professionals including 1,390 nurses," Mr Barnett said.

"Tasmania's public hospitals delivered record levels of activity in 2022-23, with 21,364 public elective surgery admissions, which is 34 per cent more than in 2019-20.

"We know that around 40 per cent of presentations at our emergency departments currently are not emergency cases, many of whom could be treated by GPs - this is why our nation-leading GP Guarantee is so important."

Dr Saul said the state government can only do so much.

"We need governments of all levels to work together to invest in public hospitals, primary care, older person care, disability services, and a Medicare system that keeps pace with the economic climate," Dr Saul said.

"We urge the government to carefully consider these findings and collaborate on meaningful solutions to address the pressing challenges facing Tasmania's public hospital system."