Premier Peter Gutwein said the government would look into enlisting University of Tasmania medical and nursing students to support frontline health workers in tackling the coronavirus pandemic.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
This comes after the idea was suggested by Labor leader Rebecca White during Parliament Question Time.
Ms White said there were hundreds of UTAS students currently training in medical fields.
"This includes 600 medical students and 830 nursing students, as well as paramedic, social work and psychology students," Ms White said.
Coronavirus: All the latest updates on COVID-19 for Tasmania
"Many of these students have already conducted medical placements and could provide invaluable assistance to our nurses and doctors, as well as being trained to staff the Public Health Hotline."
Ms White said demand for the hotline would only grow as the coronavirus crisis deepens.
Premier Peter Gutwein said the Public Health Hotline was staffed by skilled nurses and doctors but more resources were being brought in and other public servants were being trained in this role as the line has experienced surges after various government decisions or announcements.
"On the 23rd of March the call centre moved to the Vodafone call centre. There are a further 40 new staff brought on from casual pools across the public service," Mr Gutwein said.
Mr Gutwein said as more staff were brought on to staff the line calls would now be triaged and if it was appropriate a caller would speak to a health professional.