Friends of Northern Hospice have been campaigning for a dedicated, standalone hospice in Launceston, since the closure of Philip Oakden House in 2007.

The group claim Bass Labor MHR Ross Hart has "backflipped" on policy taken to the 2016 federal election, to establish a $3 million, 10-bed hospice facility in Launceston.

It has also accused the Liberal party of taking little interest in supporting a system is says would take pressure off hospitals and reduce health budget pressures.

Friends of Northern Hospice spokeswoman Barb Baker said it was time both major parties showed the political leadership and compassion needed to give Northern Tasmanians the end of life care they deserved.

In a statement, Mr Hart said it was for the Liberals to explain why they had refused to support the issue.

Launceston remains one of the only regional cities in Australia without a dedicated hospice facility.

Ms Baker said considering Hobart had 10 public hospice beds, the group had been left saddened and disappointed by a lack of action in the North.

"It is ironic that the Labor party is announcing health funding promises designed to reduce bed block, while at the same time removing the option of a hospice," she said.

"A hospice would enable patients to be moved away from a hospital setting into a more appropriate setting and at much less cost to the health budget.

"Despite taking this promise to the last election Mr Hart as the Member for Bass has not lobbied either his federal colleagues or put pressure on the state Liberal government to see this become a reality.

"Therefore, sadly his change of heart is not a surprise."

Mr Hart blamed a lack of Liberal party support for Launceston's hospice facility not becoming a reality.

"State and federal Liberal governments have done nothing but cut health since coming to office," he said.

"Scott Morrison's Liberals have cut $11 million from Tasmania's hospitals and if re-elected they'll cut another $35 million.

"Labor will address the health crisis by reversing Liberal cuts, providing enough new funding to hire 24 new doctors every year for six years and opening a further 32 sub-acute beds in Launceston to relieve pressure on the LGH."

A 2016 independent feasibility study funded by the state government found that Northern Tasmania had enough palliative services to meet demand for the next 20 years and recommended against opening hospice in Launceston.

However Ms Baker said hospice would take pressures off public hospitals.

"We know that hospice is much more cost effective. The cost of a hospice bed up to 50 per cent less than a regular hospital bed," she said.

"Not everyone can die at home. In Launceston alone 30 per cent of people over 65 live alone.

"We are an ageing population, we are sicker, we have higher rates of chronic illness - this is something we have been lobbying for over a decade."

Liberal candidate for Bass Bridget Archer was contacted for comment.

The Examiner will host a forum between Bridget Archer and Ross Hart on Wednesday from 6.30pm. The forum will be livestreamed from The Examiner's Facebook page.