The Rockliff Ferguson Government's long overdue and barely sufficient move to address Tasmania's GP crisis is too little, too late.
After almost a decade of neglect, solving the health crisis in regional and rural Tasmania is going to take much, much more than the Premier announcing the latest recipients of an existing after hours grants program.
Providing greater resources to allow Tasmanians to receive medical care when they need it and where they live should have been a priority before now.
The lack of response over the past two terms of this Liberal government has placed an overwhelming burden on Tasmanian hospitals, GPs and the ambulance service.
The Premier's "announcement" today – on the eve of a federal election - is an inadequate attempt to play catch up on a situation that is a direct result of the Liberals failure to deliver when it comes to better access to health care for all Tasmanians.
Labor has been clear that pressure would be eased if the government was willing to make further investments in regional health, including placing nurse practitioners after hours in regional hospitals to provide better care to Tasmanians and support general practice.
The government's refusal to fund this initiative is placing an unnecessary burden on an already over-burdened health and hospital system and is indicative of the Rockliff Ferguson Government's failure to simply get the basics right.
Anita Dow MP
Shadow Health Minister
