Today's announcement that the Liberal Government has finally come up with a plan to address out of control specialist waiting lists is welcome news.
But it is too little, too late for patients who have been waiting years to see specialists.
The fact is under the Liberals the specialist wait list has more than doubled, growing by almost 30,000 people.
Specialist wait times are also completely unacceptable, with urgent neurosurgery patients, who are meant to be seen in 30 days, currently forced to wait well over two years. Less urgent neurosurgery patients, meanwhile, wait an average of over six and a half years.
So while any promises are welcome, what we really need to see is action to undo the damage the Liberals have caused over the past eight years.
The Liberals have a track record of making big promises when it comes to health services in Tasmania including a 580-million-dollar redevelopment of the Launceston General Hospital. To date, very little has been funded or delivered. Let's hope this is not another announcement that goes undelivered.
Tasmania's health system continues to deteriorate under the watch of a part-time Health Minister who is more focused on building a $750 million stadium in Hobart than fixing the state's health crisis.
Premier Rockliff should appoint a full-time Health Minister and make health a priority for the Liberal Government.
Anita Dow MP
Shadow Minister for Health
