Premier Peter Gutwein and Health Minister Sarah Courtney can no longer continue to deny the dire situation they have created and maintained in Tasmania's health and hospital system with the release of another damning report showing it is the worst performing in the nation.
Labor Leader Rebecca White said the Productivity Commission's Report on Government Services on health painted a bleak picture of a health system that had deteriorated alarmingly over the past two terms of Liberal government and was continuing to worsen.
Ms White said the Liberals had created a system which had badly failed Tasmanians in need of health care and an impossible situation for nurses, doctors and other health professionals who had been prevented from providing the best care despite their best efforts.
"Mr Gutwein and Ms Courtney can no longer remain in denial after seven years in which their government has consistently eroded resources and failed our hard-working health staff and patients," Ms White said.
"Telling Tasmanians time and again that the health and hospital system faces 'significant challenges' is doing nothing to actually improve a disastrous situation. And it is doing nothing to help Tasmanians who need care get that care."
The report shows half of Tasmanian category one patients on the elective surgery waiting list waited longer than the recommended treatment timeframe of 30 days.
Overall, almost 55 per cent of Tasmanians on the elective surgery waiting list waited longer than clinically recommended.
Average ambulance response times are the worst in the country at 25.6 minutes.
The report also shows just 66 per cent of emergency patients and 58 per cent of urgent cases presenting to Tasmanian emergency departments were seen on time.
"On this government's watch, the elective surgery waiting list has ballooned to more than 11,790, the outpatient wait list is unacceptable at 47,700 and more than 16,000 Tasmanians are waiting to see a dentist," Ms White said.
"These are appalling figures the government can no longer ignore and Mr Gutwein and Ms Courtney need to stop with the excuses and tell Tasmanian health staff and patients how and when they will fix the system."
Rebecca White MP
Labor Leader
