Sick, injured and elderly Tasmanians arriving at emergency departments in ambulances will now only be waiting up to an hour before being released into the care of hospitals, according to new state policy.
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Health Minister Guy Barnett announced the commitment hours before attending a parliamentary committee inquiry into ambulance ramping.
Up to 136 people in five years have died while waiting to get into hospital, while studies show that patients have a 10 per cent chance of dying within seven days if they wait more than 30 minutes for admission.
Mr Barnett said all patients who arrive in ambulances must be transferred within 60 minutes to the care of emergency department staff, with the mandate to begin in March.
"The new Transfer of Care Procedure will release paramedics to attend more cases in the community and reduce response times for life-threatening cases," Mr Barnett said.
"This is one component of the Rockliff Liberal Government's transformational plan to reduce Transfer of Care delays and improve patient access and flow across the health system."
Another part of the plan to reduce ramping include paramedics being able to drop off non-urgent patients into ED waiting rooms.
Unions say the 60 minute mandate was negotiated as part of the Ambulance Tasmania Award and Agreement registered in April 2023.
Health and Community Services Union state secretary Robbie Moore said it was a welcome response that could reduce ramping and get ambulances on the road for health emergencies.
"We have no choice but to do this. We have just got to make it work," Mr Moore said.
He said any pressure placed on the hospital and ED systems as a result of the mandate would require solutions to bed block.
"We have to invest in allied health professionals, physios, occupational therapists, people who get you out of hospital sooner or who offer care that means you don't need a hospital bed," Mr Moore said.
"We also have to deal with the aged care factor...if aged care had doctors, nurses and other allied health in homes then hospital would not be needed. The state should take over aged care facilities, which is what they did in Victoria and they don't have bed block."
Some are calling for the state to employ an extra 126 paramedics and support staff.
