A Dean Winter Labor Government will rescue a critical after-hours telehealth service from closure and enhance it to create TassieDoc 24/7.
TassieDoc 24/7 will supplement Labor's 10, 100% free regular doctors clinics across the state, giving the Tasmanian public and other medical professionals afterhours access to a GP via telehealth.
The long-running GP Assist service is set close at the end of this month without government intervention.
It provides after-hours GP telehealth coverage for the general public, as well as rural hospitals, nursing homes and palliative care.
Labor will step in and rescue this service, helping it run in its current capacity for the next six months before it transitions to TassieDoc 24/7 from February 1 next year.
Based on a successful model from Victoria, TassieDoc 24/7 will see GP Assist enhanced by upgrading the technology used by participating doctors and enabling them to deliver more advanced care.
By helping Tasmanians access a GP after hours, it takes enormous strain off already overloaded emergency departments, and helps rural GPs to avoid burnout.
According to Primary Health Tasmania, the GP Assist service kept more than 11,000 people out of EDs last year.
After 11 years of the Liberals, Tasmanians are finding it harder than ever to get the healthcare they need, when they need it.
It's time for a fresh start, and the best way to change the government is to vote Labor.
Dean Winter MP
Labor Leader
