Out of control ambulance ramping created and allowed to thrive under the Liberal Government will be solved by a Majority Labor Government with 24/7 ambulance coverage across Tasmania.
Labor Leader Rebecca White and Shadow Health Minister Dr Bastian Seidel today unveiled a comprehensive strategy to save lives by employing an additional 144 full-time paramedics to ensure every station has 24/7 coverage.
Labor leader Rebecca White said it was an unacceptable tragedy that Tasmanians have died waiting for an ambulance while Peter Gutwein has done nothing to address the crisis he created.
"Another four years of Liberal inaction can only cost more lives," Ms White said.
"It is unacceptable that over 400 Tasmanians arrive in emergency departments dead each year. How many lives could have been saved if an ambulance and a paramedic would have been available?
"Labor will address this by employing an additional 144 full-time paramedics and upgrade over 30 locations to 24/7 paramedic cover and in areas of rapid population growth like Channel and Oakdowns, we will establish new stations.
"To complement this, we will create an Emergency Tasmania Digital Health Hub to provide Tasmanians with access to emergency medical advice 24/7.
"Labor will also establish 10 GP Extended Care Centres open from 8am-8pm for up to 7 days a week to take pressure off the emergency departments by giving Tasmanians better access to urgent care in the community."
Shadow Health Minister Dr Bastian Seidel said Labor's comprehensive $167 million Ambulance Strategy would end the crisis and improve the health of Tasmanians across the state.
"Ambulance waiting times are the worst in the country and have increased over 30 per cent since the Liberals were elected," Dr Seidel said.
"That's through no fault of our dedicated ambulance staff - they just have not been provided the resources they need under the Liberals.
"Wait times in regional areas are just appalling with local ambulances being diverted to attend emergencies outside their communities leaving vulnerable patients without treatment for hours with sometimes fatal consequences.
"Heart attacks, strokes and accidents don't make appointments, that's why we will invest in our paramedics and a comprehensive 24/7 ambulance service in all regions of Tasmania."
Key commitments:
- 24/7 paramedic coverage at all Tasmanians ambulance stations with 144 new full-time paramedics
- New double branch stations in priority population growth areas including Channel and Oakdowns
- Establishment of 10 GP Extended Care Centres
Rebecca White MP
Labor Leader
Dr Bastian Seidel MLC
Shadow Health Minister
