Labor leader Rebecca White has requested an urgent meeting with Premier Will Hodgman to discuss “the ongoing health crisis.”
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Health Minister Michael Ferguson says health will dominate state parliament when it resumes on Tuesday.
Ms White wrote to Mr Hodgman on Friday with a 10 point plan, including convening statewide round-tables of doctors, nurses and unions.
A government spokesperson described releasing the letter as “a stunt” and said Labor had no solutions.
“I see no evidence of Labor wanting to genuinely be constructive on health – quite the opposite as all they do is play politics and create fear,” the spokesperson said.
In her letter Ms White said: “This matter has become so serious that these meetings must be led by you as Premier.”
She said Mr Hodgman must listen to solutions proposed by frontline staff to address bed block at the Launceston General Hospital” including increasing capacity in wards 4D and 4K and opening all beds currently closed in ICU to be used as a high dependency unit
Health analyst Martyn Godddard released data last week which showed the LGH had the worst be block of 287 public hospitals in Australia.
“Appoint permanent emergency psychiatric nurses who help assess, care and treat mental health patients in conjunction with psychiatric support at the LGH and North West Regional Hospital at Burnie,” Ms White said.
Health Minister Michael Ferguson said the government had provided record funding for health.
He said 800 new staff had been appointed, 120 beds opened and a second neurologist would soon be appointed at the LGH.
“The government considers health a key priority and that will be reflected in parliament this week,” Mr Ferguson said.
“We’ve got the runs on the board but we recognise with the increasing demand through our emergency departments that we’ve got to do more.
“We have reformed a health system that was disconnected and dysfunctional (but) it’s clear there is still a lot more to be done.
“I look forward to providing an update on the next stage of our long term plan for health.”
Mr Ferguson said the Hospital in the Home initiative which had been trialled in Launceston would be extended to the North-West ans South.
“We will recruit around thirty new allied health professionals and nurses as part of our $11 million Hospital in the Home initiatives which will lessen the pressure on our hospitals,” he said. “We will continue to invest record amounts to open nearly 300 new hospital beds and provide new services.”