The Tasmanian Greens has announced its policy for community health services in the state which they say will take pressure off the state's hospitals.
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Greens health spokeswoman Rosalie Woodruff said key to these policies would be the employment of 50 full-time-equivalent allied health practitioners around the state to keep people well and out of hospital.
"We'll also put decision-making in local community hands and provide $3 million a year towards preventative health and community-run initiatives to keep people well," she said.
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"Tasmania has one of the highest rates of chronic care conditions in Australia.
"We have an older population and a vast number of chronic conditions that need to be attended to so they don't get more serious.
"The types of services people in communities need include counselling and support, podiatry, physiotherapy, dieticians, occupational therapy, hearing and speech therapy."
Dr Woodruff said state and federal governments had gradually defunded community health services over years.
"Communities know the cuts they've had to endure," she said.
"They know that the gap that is there has meant that more people end up in hospital dealing with preventable issues.
"Properly funding health services located in communities across Tasmania, and targeted prevention programs, will save lives."
Dr Woodruff said there were allied health professionals in Tasmania that wanted to work more hours and work under better conditions.
She said the goal was to have the additional allied health workers employed over the next four years in areas of the state most in need.
"This will be a progressive rollout as soon as possible," Dr Woodruff said.
The Tasmanian Liberals have made a number of key health announcements over the past few days ahead of their opposition.
Dr Woodruff described the pledges as hollow promises.
"Every single budget, every single election since 2014, we've had the Liberals promising, but not delivering," she said.
Dr Woodruff said the party would release the next part of its health policy platform during the week which would deal with hospital capacity and support for ambulance services.
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Political reporter for Australian Community Media, based in Hobart.
Political reporter for Australian Community Media, based in Hobart.
