Labor highlights long waits in Tasmanian hospital emergency departments

As Labor highlights waiting times in emergency departments, the government says it is on a recruitment blitz. Find out what the dashboard figures show.

Ambulances ramped at the Royal Hobart Hospital.

Nearly 90 people waited more than 24 hours in Tasmanian emergency departments over a five day period in December, highlighting the “incredible strain” on the health system, Labor says.

The government has conceded it can do better but says it is on a major recruitment drive to attract workers.

Labor’s health spokeswoman Ella Haddad said the Health Department’s daily dashboard showed that between December 16 to 20, 87 patients at the state’s public hospitals spent more than 24 hours in the emergency department.

She said half of emergency department patients spent more than 12 hours in ED, and fewer than 10 per cent left within four hours.

“The Department of Health daily dashboard for the last week continues to highlight the incredible strain Tasmania’s health system is feeling under the Liberals,” Ms Haddad said.

“The latest monthly dashboard released on Friday, showed 15,031 emergency department presentations for November – up 244 from the same time last year.

“Just 46 per cent of patient presentations at major hospitals were seen on time, compared to 56 per cent for the same time last year.

Labor health spokeswoman Ella Haddad speaks to media outside the Royal Hobart Hospital.

“These statistics show how much pressure emergency staff are under and explain why so many Tasmanian health workers are leaving the system.”

Government Minister Jane Howlett defended the dashboard figures

“Look, we know that we can always do things better,” she said.

“We’re implementing the results of the healthcare data, and we’re on a major recruitment blitz.

“We’ve recruited 1500 healthcare workers since April this year.

“We know there’s more work that needs to be done, and we’re getting on and we’re doing it. We’re absolutely focused on improving our healthcare,

“Over the Christmas period, we encourage anyone who’s unwell to also utilise our urgent healthcare clinics as well, we have five around the state.”

The dashboard figures show that on December 16, 22 people waited more than 24 hours and just under half of all patients departed within 12 hours.

On December 17, only 5.67 per cent of patients were seen within four hours.

The number of ED presentations in November of 15,031 was down from the October figure of 15,566 but up from November 2023.

Ms Haddad said it was revealed during budget estimates hearings that the government spent at least $76m on agency nurses and $105m on locum doctors.

“The 2024-25 budget includes $600m worth of cuts to the Health Department, so it’s impossible to see how working conditions in the THS and patient outcomes are going to improve under the Liberal minority government.

“Instead of cuts and Band-Aid solutions, the government should be focused on building a sustainable Tasmanian Health Service by addressing staffing levels, improving working conditions, and directly employing a strong and stable workforce.”

Originally published as Labor highlights long waits in Tasmanian hospital emergency departments