A “comprehensive” air conditioning upgrade at the Launceston General Hospital has been promised by the Liberals, under a re-elected majority government.

Reports of inadequate cooling systems in the hospital during the weekend’s heatwave emerged this week, with ward 6D reaching 31.7 degrees on Sunday at 8pm, Health and Community Services assistant state secretary Robbie Moore said.

He said the conditions put patient safety at risk.

Health Minister Michael Ferguson said on Wednesday that the government would invest $1.4 million into an upgrade if re-elected.

“Many of the wards at LGH were constructed three decades ago, and have seen little or no change over that time,” he said.

“Funding will provide air conditioning in some areas for the first time since they were constructed, such as wards in D-Block.”

Mr Ferguson said funding would provide for the upgrade of ageing infrastructure to modern standards in other areas of the hospital.

“This important investment will ensure patients, visitors and staff will are much more comfortable in both summer and winter.

“The schedule of works will be determined by local hospital management, to ensure the worst-affected areas are fixed first while ensuring hospital operations aren’t disrupted.”

EARLIER

Health Minister Michael Ferguson says temperature issues at the Launceston General Hospital will be addressed.

“I’m not happy with seeing high temperatures in any of our facilities,” he said.

“I understand that there’s one of the buildings at the LGH, which was built without air conditioning, and I’m currently obtaining options and advice on that.”

RELATED: LGH ward 6D temperatures during heatwave 'put patient safety at risk'

Health and Community Services Union assistant state secretary Robbie Moore said inadequate cooling systems at the LGH during the weekend’s heatwave put patient safety at risk.

Ward 6D was the worst-affected area, with the temperature reaching 31.7 at 8pm on Sunday, Mr Moore said.

A Tasmanian Health Service spokesman said engineers had been engaged to examine the issue.

“Ward 6D is in an older area of the hospital where air conditioning was not installed when the hospital was first built,” he said.

“A number of measures were taken to minimise temperatures in the ward during the weekend’s heatwave, including the use of a portable air conditioner, industrial fans operating in the ward’s hallways and smaller fans being provided to individual patients. 

“Hospital management acknowledges that, due to the prevailing heatwave conditions, temperatures did become uncomfortable for patients and staff despite the measures taken to ensure the area was kept as cool as possible.”