The government has promised more beds in the state’s hospitals and more staff from July in readiness for flu season.
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Health Minister Michael Ferguson said there would be eight overflow beds available at the Launceston General Hospital, five more than last year, and a patient transit lounge opening in June.
There will be eight more beds at the Royal Hobart Hospital and 22 sub-acute beds at another location, available a month later.
A pre-admission clinic at the North West Regional Hospital will open in July.
As well, Mr Ferguson said extra trained staff woulds be recruited and increased availability of casual and pool staff.
"This is the best prepared that Tasmania will be for a known winter flu season," Mr Ferguson said.
"The recruitment process is already well underway… and I'm advised there are several dozen nursing and allied health staff that are currently being recruited, on track for July opening time."
There were 3505 cases of influenza in 2017, compared to 1055 in 2016.
There were 21 deaths in Tasmania due to the flu last year, including six elderly residents at an aged care facility in Latrobe.
Mr Ferguson urged Tasmanians to get a flu shot in the next month to relieve hospital stress.
“It’s a preventable disease and the way to prevent it is to get a flu shot,”
“They do work, they are safe, and people should take their advice from their GP or pharmacist and not from social media.”
Labor health spokeswoman Sarah Lovell said she had concerns over recruitment and adequate staffing for the extra beds. "Staffing at the hospital is already stretched beyond capacity and we know that there are almost 200 vacancies for nursing positions in the hospital system as it is," she said.
She said she was concerned the strategy would come into effect too late and without adequate consultation with the staff tasked to carry out the plan.
“We’re already seeing instances of flu presenting to hospitals,” Ms Lovell said.