Premier admits demand for health services is “outstripping” supply

PREMIER Will Hodgman says health investment remains the government’s top priority, conceding the current system is “far from good enough”.

Premier Will Hodgman speaks at the Liberal State Council Conference in Bellerive on Sunday. Picture: PATRICK GEE

PREMIER Will Hodgman says health investment remains the Government’s top priority, conceding the current system is “far from good enough”.

The Premier told delegates to the Liberal Party’s state council in Bellerive yesterday the demand for health services was surpassing supply.

“We have reformed a health system that was disconnected and dysfunctional, but it’s far from good enough,” he said.

“We are totally committed to finishing the job we started.”

Mr Hodgman said demand in emergency departments had spiked by more than 7000 patients a year since 2016.

Premier Will Hodgman speaks at the Liberal State Council Conference in Bellerive on Sunday. Picture: PATRICK GEE

“Twelve years ago, the Royal Hobart Hospital Emergency Department on average treated 108 patients per day. In 2018, we now need a hospital to treat 222 patients a day,” he said. “We do have a very real challenge of meeting today’s demand in yesterday’s hospital.

“But we are up for that. We are, in fact, the government that will actually deliver the new Royal Hobart Hospital, and it will happen in this term of government.”

A core team of six medical specialists had completed their training in pre-hospital and retrieval care for Tasmania’s first integrated medical search-and-rescue helicopter service, he said — with those specialists set to train other members of the service, which will hit full capability by mid-2019.

Elective surgery waiting lists at the Royal Hobart Hospital had increased 47 per cent — from 5403 people to 7933 between July 2017 and June 2018. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

Mr Hodgman also spoke of the new $7.2 million package to improve women’s access to elective surgery.

The Mercury last week reported elective surgery waiting lists had increased 47 per cent — from 5403 people to 7933 between July 2017 and June 2018.

Mr Hodgman’s speech also touched on eduction, family violence, infrastructure, economic growth and renewable energy.

Delegates debated several motions around federal and local government reform, voting in support of registration for cyclists, increasing the size of parliament and removing “radical gender ideology” from schools.

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Denison Business Branch member Pat Gartland said radical gender theory was “fundamentally at odds with science, logic and common sense”.

“Introducing contested gender theory under the guise of an anti-bullying program, is an abuse of the power of [teachers’] authority.

“It is wrong to condition children into believing a lifetime of chemical and surgical impersonation of the opposite sex is normal and healthy.”