Demand pressures on emergency departments and ambulances continues to grow in Tasmania, latest health data shows, but the government is confident it can meet benchmarks.
Key performance indicators for August were released on Friday, showing that demand on the Royal Hobart Hospital was driving an overall increase in emergency department presentations, while the figure remained steady at the Launceston General and North-West Regional hospitals.
For the month, 55 per cent of patients were seen and departed within the benchmark time of four hours, an improvement from July but a decrease from 58 per cent a year earlier.
Ambulance waiting times have also increased over the past 12 months with the average response time 14.5 minutes for August, up from 13.8 minutes a year earlier.
Growth in emergency ambulance callouts surged in June and July before plateauing in August with 3445 for the month.
Health Minister Jeremy Rockliff said the data showed improvements at the LGH and NWRH hospital emergency departments, but there was more to do to ease pressure on the RHH.
"The Royal Hobart Hospital continues to be under immense pressure with growing levels of emergency presentations and higher levels of complexity," he said.
"This is exactly why we announced the emergency department will be 'supersized' to ensure the number of beds and treatment points in the expanded department can support staff to respond to the demand being experienced."
The elective surgery waiting list has decreased from 11,827 in September last year, to 10,850 in August. The LGH has seen a reduction from 4502 to 4247 over the same period, while the NWRH has remained steady.
Waiting lists for dental care continue to grow in Tasmania.
The waiting list sits at 18,213 adults - an increase of almost 2000 since 12 months earlier.
The number of Tasmanians waiting for dentures has also increased during the same period, although it has started to reduce since a peak in April.
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Adam Holmes
From Adelaide to south-west Victoria, Bendigo to Tasmania, I've provided in-depth stories in politics, environmental affairs, issues facing disadvantaged communities, legal affairs and much more. Contact me at adam.holmes@examiner.com.au or on Twitter at @adamholmes010
From Adelaide to south-west Victoria, Bendigo to Tasmania, I've provided in-depth stories in politics, environmental affairs, issues facing disadvantaged communities, legal affairs and much more. Contact me at adam.holmes@examiner.com.au or on Twitter at @adamholmes010
