A game-changing plan to make 1,000 bulk billed visits a day available at 10 GP Extended Care Clinics throughout Tasmania will take pressure off emergency departments and help end ambulance ramping and bed block.
Labor Leader Rebecca White said the establishment of the 10 GP clinics - offering seven-day-a-week care from 8am to 8pm – will provide 100 per cent bulk billed urgent care visits.
"This will mean people can see a doctor when they need one and it will help take pressure off hospital emergency departments and reduce ambulance ramping," Ms White said.
"Too many Tasmanians don't have access to affordable health care and that's part of the reason why our emergency department staff every day struggle to keep up with demand.
"Labor's plan will address that urgent need, particularly in areas like Hobart's northern suburbs where one of the GP clinics will be located.
"This is a health care package that offers over 100 bulk billed urgent care visits per centre per day - that's 1000 visits each day throughout Tasmania.
"It's essential we offer wider availability to affordable health care after seven years of Liberal failure and neglect on health which has seen the waiting list to get a specialist's appointment grow beyond 50,000.
"That's simply unsustainable and sick Tasmanians are getting sicker under the Gutwein Government"
Shadow Health Minister Dr Bastian Seidel said no Tasmanian should be forced to delay care because of cost.
"Our model has been endorsed as nation leading by the RACGP and this is a gamechanger for access to health care throughout Tasmania," Dr Seidel said.
"These extended care centres will also be staffed by paramedic practitioners.
"We need to look at different ways of delivering health care after the chaos the Liberals have brought to the hospital and health system.
"To improve healthcare outcomes in Tasmania, we need a new approach because too often health policies focus on more hospitals and more hospital beds as the solution.
"We need to recognise the important role GPs play in delivering urgent health care and provide those doctors with the support they need.
"Affordable healthcare in the community will take the pressure off our overcrowded emergency departments."
Dr Seidel said a Majority Labor Government would also deliver on upgrades providing 24/7 care at the Glenorchy Community Health Centre.
Rebecca White MP
Labor Leader
Dr Bastian Seidel MLC
Shadow Health Minister
