The Labor party has expressed concerns a crisis summit co-hosted by Health Minister Michael Ferguson would not alleviate pressure on the health sector across the state.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Held in Hobart on Wednesday, the summit brought together stakeholders in a bid to generate solutions to access block issues at the Royal Hobart Hospital.
Labor health spokeswoman Sarah Lovell said the meeting was a constructive exercise for the RHH, however, it was important to recognise access block was a small part of what was happening in the health system.
"It was made very clear at the start of the day that the scope of the summit was what could be impacted by people in the sphere of control they are dealing with. What's happening does not address in any way that people are still working in an under-resourced system," Ms Lovell said.
MORE ON THE HEALTH SYSTEM CRISIS IN TASMANIA:
- Man dies in Royal Hobart Hospital emergency department after seven-hour wait
- Health analyst says up to 80 Tasmanians a year die prematurely in emergency departments
- Concerns over in-patient capacity at the Launceston General Hospital
- Tasmanian patients most at risk of long wait times
- Launceston public health forum with Health Minister Michael Ferguson
"It doesn't change the fact there are still enormous problems in our health system."
Ms Lovell said until the government increases health funding there will not be any signification changes within the sector.
Health Minister Michael Ferguson said experts speaking at the summit made it clear the sector should find solutions to access block with the resources already in place.
"Everybody in the room accepts that we need to find solutions that don't cost anything," Mr Ferguson said.
Mr Ferguson said on Wednesday afternoon at that point in the summit it was too early to specify any practical steps that would be implemented.
"There are going to be lessons that are learned out of this that will actually make a material impact on the whole hospital to look after patients," Mr Ferguson said.
Medical director for acute services at the RHH Dr Paul MacIntyre said access solutions start with good discharge planning to create beds for new patients coming through the system.
"We can improve the time it takes for patients to be reviewed by sub-specialist teams, we can improve the referral process, we can improve communication which has been a big issue," Dr MacIntyre said.
Dr MacIntyre said junior staff could also be better trained regarding improving patient-flow.
"Additional capacity will be part of the equation," he said.
Australasian College of Emergency Medicine president Dr Simon Judkins said key areas the summit sought to address were culture, leadership and accountability.
"We can put money into infrastructure but unless you have the right people, process and culture that's wasted money," Dr Judkins said.
"This is about engaging the clinical leaders and staff across the whole system to realise that, when there is an ambulance ramped outside the hospital, they have some role in that situation.
"Everybody needs to look at what they can do."