New Health Minister Guy Barnett must give assurances to Tasmanians that he will take action to address the root causes of ambulance ramping at the Launceston General Hospital and across the state.
The latest coronial findings into the tragic death of Mrs Anne Pedler, who died after being ramped for eight hours at the LGH, highlights the gross failings the minority Liberal Government under the leadership of Jeremy Rockliff.
The prevalence of ambulance ramping is systematic of a health system in crisis. The Premier's handling of the health portfolio was so woeful he finally sacked himself as Health Minister.
No reset of this failed minority government is going to fix our health system after their 10 years in office.
The health crisis is the worst it has ever been. Hospital rosters are understaffed, our major hospitals are experiencing bed block and paramedics spent 31,000 hours between July last year and May this year stuck on the ramp.
Health Minister Guy Barnett must start listening to the concerns raised by health professionals, properly invest in our ambulance service and finally prioritise funding for the $580 million stage 2 redevelopment of the LGH.
Tasmanians can't afford to wait another 10 years for the LGH redevelopment to go ahead, it must be addressed now.
But given the new Minister seems determined to delay the project further, Tasmanians are right to believe that if the Liberals haven't fixed the health system after 10 years, they never will.
Anita Dow MP
Shadow Minister for Health, Mental Health and Wellbeing
