Paramedics are bearing the brunt of a health system in crisis, according to the Labor party, who says Ambulance Tasmania is one serious incident away from catastrophe.
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Labor health spokeswoman Sarah Lovell said AT crews in the state's south operated at a surge level four for 14 hours on Wednesday night - the second highest escalation level in its contingency plan.
The surge level was reportedly declared at 5pm and remained in place until 7am, with some patients understood to be waiting up to four hours for an ambulance.
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Ms Lovell said it was unacceptable to let ambulance crews work in such dangerous environments.
"We have had the ambulance system operating at crisis levels almost every day," she said.
"We have had a significant data breach, where patient's personal information has been made available online for some time now.
"We have ambulances ramped in the hospital all day because there is no room for their patients in the hospitals. And all the [health] minister can say is she's monitoring the situation."
The escalation comes a day after the Health and Community Services Union reported paramedics had reached breaking point, calling for the government to implement an external review into AT services.
Ms Lovell said the situation remained just as dire in the state's North.
"There are three ambulance crews available in Launceston to respond to that area overnight. And yet we have seen on more than one occasion up to five crews at the hospital," she said.
"That demonstrates we're having crews come in from other areas to respond to Launceston cases because there aren't enough resources in Launceston.
"The Launceston General Hospital is facing just as many problems, if not more, than the Royal Hobart Hospital, because they are still waiting for their masterplan. That's also been delayed."
Responding to the claims on Thursday, Health Minister Sarah Courtney said she never wanted to see ambulances ramped at Tasmanian hospitals.
"We know that bed block has been a long challenge across our health system, which is why we are embarking on our healthcare future, to look to solutions we need to make sure we can improve access through our hospitals and make sure we can deliver care to our patients, at the right time and at the right place."
Ms Courtney said 1500 more people had been employed in the health system since the Liberal party came to government, including about 100 ambulance officers and dispatch medics since the last state budget.
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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.
