Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation Tasmanian Branch members gathered at the Royal Hobart Hospital on Friday calling for a commitment for funding and policies to address existing shortfalls it says are pushing staff to breaking point.

It comes after the union launched an application with the Tasmanian Industrial Commission last month to seek assistance in resolving long-standing staffing issues associated with the Launceston General Hospital emergency department.

ANMF state secretary Emily Shepherd said to date no party had recognised or developed a policy with funding attached to address the "fundamentally low and unsustainable vacancy rate for nursing and midwifery positions across the state".

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"Members, while recognising the need for additional beds and the redevelopment of existing buildings, are alarmed by current political commitments," she said.

"As it stands, there aren't even enough staff to look after the patients in beds today, let alone adding more in the future. The current situation is untenable, and action must be taken now."

Ms Shepherd said members wanted to see a clear commitment with funding to ensure existing services can be delivered safely for patients and staff.

In releasing the first part of its $137 million health policy on Friday, Labor pledged to employ an additional 150 nurses and midwives across the state to improve standard of patient care.

"It means getting Tasmanians out of impossible situations where they are living in chronic pain waiting for help that will remain years away under the Liberals," Labor leader Rebecca White said.

Under its health policy, the Liberal Party have pledged to employ an additional 280 full-time equivalent staff to support new and boosted services across Tasmania, including more than 160 nurses.

Health Minister Sarah Courtney said there was now 270 more nurses at the LGH than when they came to government.

"We have committed to establishing a new Health Staff Recruitment Taskforce, which will include the ANMF as a key partner, and that will specifically look at how we can improve recruitment for our hospitals - to support our investment in elective surgery and our ongoing investment to open beds and take pressure off emergency departments," she said.

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