Access to mental health services in Tasmania is worsening under the Liberal Government, with alarming statistics from the AMA showing the extent of the crisis.
Tasmania has seen the biggest reduction in mental health beds in public hospitals in the entire country - a fact compounded by the Launceston General Hospital (LGH) having the worst bed block in the country with our other hospitals not far behind.
Shockingly Tasmania has the longest emergency department stay time for mental health patients.
One in ten people who presented to the ED with a mental health condition waited more than 22 hours to be seen - an increase of more than 50% in just the last four years.
Among those patients who were subsequently admitted, one in ten waited more than 28 and a half hours in ED.
Tasmania also does not have any dedicated youth mental health beds in the North and North-West.
Mental Health workforce shortages are also contributing to the crisis across mental health services. Poor conditions and wages that are falling further behind inflation continue to be major contributing factors.
The Liberals have made big promises when it comes to better mental health services including new beds in the South, upgrading the LGH, incorporating a mental health precinct and a redevelopment of the Spencer Clinic at the North West Regional Hospital. To date, very little has been funded or delivered.
It is time this Government got its priorities right and addressed the mental health crisis by funding and delivering more mental health beds across Tasmania instead of focusing on building a $750 million stadium in Hobart.
Anita Dow MP
Shadow Health Minister
