Health Minister Sarah Courtney told to put people ahead of budget surplus

The Government is under fire for its directive to cut elective surgeries with the peak medical body saying better healthcare is more important than a budget surplus.

The state’s hospitals have been given a directive to cut elective surgeries by 15 per cent. Picture: PATRICK GEE

THE nation’s peak medical body says it is time for the Health Minister to stand up to the Premier and demand the push for a budget surplus be shelved and replaced with a push for better healthcare for Tasmanians.

Australian Medical Association Tasmania president John Davis was speaking after it was revealed a directive had been given to cut elective surgeries by 15 per cent across the state.

There are currently 9426 Tasmanians on the elective surgery waiting list.

Dr Davis said he heard about the cuts via the media.

“The Government is giving with one hand and taking with the other, and putting smaller and smaller Band-Aids on an ever-growing health system wound,” Dr Davis said.

“It is time to forget the budget surplus and maybe have a deficit instead of putting more and more pressure on people who need care.

“Why should people forego surgery so the Government can smell the roses at budget time? The Government will come out and spruik how they put a record amount into health.

“What they have done is build a new bit on the Royal Hobart Hospital.”

AMA Tasmania president Dr John Davis. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

Labor earlier called on the Government to “come clean” on its “razor gang” and what else will be cut.

“Will Hodgman promised to reveal the true extent of his cuts in the first quarter of the financial year, but we are now two weeks into September and still waiting,” Labor health spokeswoman Sarah Lovell said.

Dr Davis said Labor also needed to lift its game and tell Tasmanians how it would overhaul and fix the health system, rather than whinge from the sidelines.

Health Minister Sarah Courtney said the Hodgman Government was delivering $8.1 billion over four years.

“Each year, the Department and Tasmanian Health Service plan the level and type of activity for Tasmania’s health system, including the type and volume of elective surgeries, emergency department presentations, and admissions to hospital for complex medical care, based on demand and available funding,” she said.

“Investment for health has increased to 32 per cent of our budget, and we know there is increasing demand across our health system which needs to be met, including increased demand for admission from emergency departments, and need for colonoscopies and other diagnostic procedures.”