· Flu cases this year already almost outnumber last year's total
· Royal Hobart Hospital already at critical flashpoint
· Government commitment to releasing Winter Health Plan in April hasn't materialised
In Tasmania there have already been 448 reported cases of flu this year, compared to 452 for the whole of 2018.
Last night the Royal Hobart Hospital emergency room had more than 70 patients waiting for a bed and a further eight queued in ambulances.
And in the midst of the escalating health and hospital crisis, Health Minister Michael Ferguson has failed to respond to calls to release the government's Winter Health and Hospitals Plan which it committed to release in April.
"The Liberals' glossy brochures claim they will release their winter plan in April-June but it's already coming too late," Shadow Health Minister Sarah Lovell said.
"When he was asked today when his plan for this flu season would be released, the best Michael Ferguson could manage was 'very soon'.
"Mr Ferguson knows there have been nearly as many cases of the flu this year as there were for all of 2018.
"Michael Ferguson knows that if these numbers continue, emergency departments will be put under enormous strain.
"The fact is the Liberals have turned their back on the crisis in the health and hospital system.
"The fact is there is a $100 million black hole in health funding every year.
"Michael Ferguson remains in denial about the crisis in health, failing to provide the necessary funding that our health system needs and now failing to release his promised Winter Health and Hospitals Plan.
"With Easter upon us, the Government has already left it too late to release its winter health plan.
"It is the latest example of the Liberals missing their own deadlines, failing at a fundamental level on health and it is Tasmanian patients who will continue to suffer."
Sarah Lovell MLC
Shadow Health Minister
