The state government will invest an additional $45.5 million into elective surgeries over the next 18 months, in an effort to boost capacity within the Tasmanian Health Service.
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The funding will form part of the upcoming state budget and is aimed at helping the more than 11,000 Tasmanians awaiting elective surgery, receive care sooner.
RELATED NEWS: Elective surgery waiting lists at 'all time high'
Health Minister Sarah Courtney said the funding would help deliver more surgeries, reduce waiting times and drive better outcomes for patients.
"This new funding, together with the previously announced $15 million provided through the Commonwealth, means our health service will deliver an estimated 8500 additional elective surgeries for the Tasmanian community over the next 18 months," she said.
"This is a huge boost to our surgery capacity, with an estimated 19,000 surgeries now planned for the 2020-21 financial year.
"Importantly, this funding also means we have now delivered an additional $170.5 million for elective surgeries since 2014."
Ms Courtney said the Health Department and surgical service leaders within the THS would work to plan the additional surgeries.
"I would like to thank Tasmanians for their patience during COVID-19 and our hardworking health workers for their continued work in supporting and caring for those in the community during a year like no other," she said.
"These have been challenging times for our health system and every day I will continue to look at how we can better protect and care for Tasmanians."
From March 26, all non-urgent elective surgeries in Australia's public hospitals were suspended - with the exception of category 1 and the most urgent category 2. This was lifted around mid-April, with surgeries in Tasmania to be gradually increased.
According to the latest data from Tasmania's Health System Dashboard, as of September there were 11,342 Tasmanians on a waitlist for elective surgery statewide, including 923 category 1.
In November 2019, the federal government brought forward $15 million in funding to allow for an extra 6000 elective surgeries across Tasmania, and $5 million to support colonoscopies.
The state budget will be delivered on November 12.
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Jessica Willard
Being a health reporter to me is about more than just reporting the problems. It's about asking why they are happening in the first place and what needs to change to fix it.
Being a health reporter to me is about more than just reporting the problems. It's about asking why they are happening in the first place and what needs to change to fix it.
