Ferguson meets doctors for crisis talks

Health Minister Michael Ferguson interrupted his Easter break for talks in Melbourne with the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine.

HEALTH Minister Michael Ferguson has held urgent talks with the peak emergency doctors’ group over the bed-block crisis at the Royal Hobart Hospital.

Mr Ferguson interrupted his Easter break for talks in Melbourne with the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine.

Doctors have warned patients will die unless action is taken to fix the chronic bed-block problem at the RHH.

Mr Ferguson said he was doing everything he could to find a fix.

“I have always strived, and every day remain committed to providing Tasmanians with better access to our health system,” he said.

“I am willing to listen to all sides as we move to address current blockage issues in our hospitals, and we will continue to take advice from the experts.

“I know we can do better by working even closer together.”

He said a key meeting on fixing the health crisis has been brought forward to June.

“Admissions to Tasmania’s emergency departments have jumped 21 per cent in the last three years, and the only way we can address this increasing demand is by working together,” Mr Ferguson said.

“The Hodgman Liberal Government is dedicated to improving Tasmania’s health system, despite our record investment in health, including opening 130 additional beds across the state, we realise more needs to be done.”

ACEM president Simon Judkins said the main cause of overcrowded emergency departments was the lack of beds for patients to move to.

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Dr Judkins said immediate changes were needed to free up more beds, or people would die.

“The key is creating inpatient hospital capacity through a combination of investing in more physical beds but also in innovative process which have worked in other hospitals,” he said.

“Changes need to be made immediately and must include the clinical leaders and directors of inpatient units, including those in the subacute areas, to see what they can do to create capacity on the wards.

“Without their engagement, leadership and ideas, we will see more patients dying waiting for care.”

Labor’s health spokeswoman Sarah Lovell said Mr Ferguson should be sacked.

“After more than five years as Health Minister, Michael Ferguson has nowhere to hide and no one to blame but himself for the crisis in the health system,” she said.

“Michael Ferguson is clearly not up to the job and the Premier should sack him.”