Waitlists for elective surgery down, but there's 'still work to be done'

The 10,776 patients currently awaiting elective surgery mark a drop from just under 12,300 in March.

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The same can't be said for oral health waitlists, however, which have been steadily climbing since last year and peaked in August at 18,213. To combat the rising need for dental care, the government has committed $5 million to create 20,000 more dental appointments statewide.

Health Minister Jeremy Rockliff welcomed the progress but conceded there was "still work to be done".

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The government has also noted continuing pressure on emergency departments across the state over the last few months.

In response, the government has committed to increasing medical staffing in the Emergency Department at the Royal Hobart Hospital by at least 15 per cent.

Meanwhile, concerns surrounding the Launceston General Hospital's own ED have once again surfaced. The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation's Tasmanian Branch called for more support earlier this week after emergency department cubicles at the hospital once again reached capacity.

Based on data from the Health Department, only 38 percent of patients presenting to the LGH ED with "potentially life-threatening, situational urgency or severe discomfort or distress" are being seen within the recommended 30 minutes. The government target for this category of patient is 75 per cent, but ED wait times across the state have consistently fallen below target levels over the last year.

In response to the ANMF's claims, the Tasmanian Health Service has agreed to form a committee, which will meet for the first time next Thursday to assess the state of the LGH's emergency department.

Among other things, the committee will discuss how prepared the hospital's department is to cope with an influx of COVID-19 cases once interstate borders open.

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