The new Health Minister's 100 day health plan needs to be more than a talkfest.
Acting Labor Leader Anita Dow said the plan must address the concerns of Tasmanians and our hard working health workers who have been speaking out about the health crisis for years.
Ms Dow said the government's plan is basically a meeting schedule – not an immediate plan or different approach to addressing the failings in our health and hospital system.
"Tasmanians have had enough of the multitude of meetings about health over the Liberals seven years in Government and want real action to fix this crisis," Ms Dow said.
"Minister Jeremy Rockliff has been handed the most important responsibility in government, ensuring health and well-being and access to health care is delivered for all Tasmanians.
"Tasmania just can't afford to continue on the path of the significant deterioration of our health system which was started by the former failed Health Minister Michael Ferguson and continued by his successor Sarah Courtney.
"Minister Jeremy Rockliff has an opportunity to do things differently and deliver for Tasmanians.
"The reality is, we still have a devastating situation where more than 12,000 Tasmanians are on a waiting list for necessary surgery and more than 50,000 are waiting for an appointment with a doctor.
"This is impacting significantly on the quality of life of many Tasmanians.
"With those sort of numbers - one in 10 Tasmanians waiting for an appointment with a specialist - promises can't be broken again, the situation can't be allowed to deteriorate further.
"Mr Rockliff has promised to recruit additional health staff needed for the government's elective surgery blitz and also to establish a Health Staff Recruitment Taskforce.
"Why are the Liberals just getting around to doing this now when they have had seven years to take this action?
"The fact is the Liberal Government has no plan for health and more Tasmanians will become sick and sadly continue to suffer waiting for help while the Liberal Government talks about its promises rather than delivers them."
Anita Dow MP
Acting Labor Leader
