In spite of promising a record $8.1 billion spend for health, Thursday's state budget offered little to no new investments to ensure Tasmania will be able to keep up with increased demand, according to peak bodies.
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The 2019-20 state budget will deliver just over $1.96 billion for health, representing almost 31 per cent of entire expenditure.
However, based on the government's estimated health outcome of $1.95 billion for 2018-19, the latest commitment represents only an additional $10.7 million for health.
Of the government's $3.6 billion infrastructure spend, more than $350 million will go towards new and upgraded health facilities and hospitals statewide.
However, the majority of the budget included continued funding for existing commitments.
New initiatives included $180 million over four years to address demand pressures across the health service, starting with $45 million in 2019-20.
There is also $40 million to support emergency care and bed access and $20 million for Ambulance Tasmania, starting with $5 million in 2019-20.
While the budget provides $63 million to commence stage two of the Royal Hobart Hospital redevelopment, AMA vice president John Davis said it was "silent" on funds for the North and didn't set out a strategy for recruitment.
"The problems that are confronting the Royal Hobart Hospital at the moment with respect to ED block, ambulance ramping and access block in the hospital, confront all of the hospitals in this state," he said.
"We can't just focus on the Royal, because we have a new K block and it will be wonderful. We've got to begin to solve the problems that are imminent in the other hospitals in this state."
In his budget speech Treasurer Peter Gutwein said the government had now hired more than 550 more nurses, more than 160 doctors, more than 90 paramedics and more than 110 allied health professionals.
However, ANMF Tasmania branch chief executive Andrew Brakey said it had failed to recognise the value of nurses and midwives.
"With the two per cent wage rise that has been put forward in the budget today, there is absolutely no way we will be able to recruit the 300 extra nurses required to make sure the patients coming in to receive the care they need," he said.
Dr Davis said a lack of budget allowances for salary rises could lead to a failure in recruitment.
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