Mr Ferguson faced a barrage of questions in state parliament on Tuesday after senior staff specialist Dr Frank O’Keeffe gatecrashed his media conference saying there were not enough hospital beds for major surgery.

“There’s plenty of staff, but we do not have the beds to do the surgery and it often gets cancelled,” Dr O’Keeffe said.

Labor leader Rebecca White asked Mr Ferguson if he agreed with Dr O’Keeffe’s comments that “the health system was akin to a car without wheels sitting on blocks.”

Mr Ferguson admitted he had been “caught a bit on the hop” by Dr O’Keeffe’s comments and was not aware of the obstetrician’s specific concerns.

He said he was “fine” with what Dr O’Keeffe said.

“I am not embarrassed, I am not concerned, I am not angry,” Mr Ferguson said.

“What was said is fine and the government will respond to those concerns.”

Mr Ferguson said he had had since had discussions with Dr O’Keeffe.

“I have made a commitment to him, and I make it to members of this house, that we will take those concerns on board just as we have done for four-and-a-half years,” he said. 

“All our health reforms, all our health investments are informed and have the support of our clinical community.

“We are interested in listening to, engaging with, hearing those concerns, and importantly providing solutions.”

Mr Ferguson told Greens Franklin member Dr Rosalie Woodruff that he agreed with Dr O’Keeffe.

“Of course Dr O'Keeffe is correct when he refers to bed pressures,” he said.

“I have acknowledged that many times but am happy to repeat for you today.

“The proof that the government, my colleagues on this side of the house, recognise the same issue is that we are providing a new building for the Royal Hobart Hospital, which will include vital new women's and children's areas not currently available.  

“I have visited the Royal Hobart Hospital women’s ward.  It is one of the poorest areas in the whole campus and is part of the exciting new redevelopment.”

He said he understood that Dr O’Keeffe and his colleagues were keen to reduce the number of occasions elective surgery is delayed due to high demand in hospitals.

In answer to a question from Greens leader Cassy O’Connor on Mr Ferguson’s performance, Premier Will Hodgman said he was doing an “exceptional job in a difficult portfolio that was in an absolute mess when we came into government just four years ago.”

“Not only have we redeveloped the Royal Hobart Hospital, but we have also saved the Mersey, which was at risk under Labor and the Greens,” Mr Hodgman said.

Labor’s health spokeswoman Sarah Lovell urged Mr Ferguson to reveal details of a new service to provide women with access to terminations in Tasmania.

“The minister failed to answer Labor’s questions on the five-year deal in Parliament today,” Ms Lovell said.

“We need to know where the service will be located, how much it will cost, how frequently the service will be provided and how women access it.

“How can we have any faith in the minister’s ability to deliver for women in this state when he clearly can’t even provide the details of a service he claims will resolve the current crisis?”