Tasmanian health system branded ‘massive fail’

Tasmania’s health system could be the envy of the world, however the reality is far from that due to a lack of resources, emergency physicians say. What the parliamentary committee heard.

Parliament Ambulance Ramping Inquiry, Health Consumers Tasmania CEO Bruce Levett. Picture: Chris Kidd

The Tasmanian health system’s deterioration due to a lack of resources is “a massive fail”, emergency physicians say.

Australasian College of Emergency Medicine Tasmanian chair Jaun Carlos Ascencio-Lane told parliament’s ambulance ramping inquiry he had witnessed first-hand the decline of the state’s health system.

“It’s a massive fail for Tasmanians,” he said

“We have the opportunity to have one of the best health systems, not just in Australia, but in the world.”

He said a 63 per cent increase in the number of emergency patients had been met with a 30 per cent increase in the number of beds.

Parliament Ambulance Ramping Inquiry, Health Consumers Tasmania CEO Bruce Levett. Picture: Chris Kidd

“Over my time working here as an emergency physician, staff specialist as well as a registrar, I’ve seen the deterioration that’s happened within all emergency departments in Tasmania,” he said

“I’ve seen the deterioration of the health system as a whole in Tasmania, and I think for us as people that want to be there to help the Tasmanian population it’s heartbreaking to see the fact that we’re being asked to do more with less.

“I’ve seen doctors leave the emergency department, who would have been amazing physicians, leave because of the stress that’s been put onto them.

“I’ve seen amazing nurses leave because emotionally it’s destroyed them.

“I’ve seen the allied health personnel, the orderlies, anybody associated with the emergency department looking for alternative duties because they cannot continue to work and in the situation that they are.”

Health Consumers Tasmania CEO Bruce Levett said ambulance ramping was a symptom of broader problems in the state’s health system.

“Ambulance ramping shows that Tasmania isn’t doing enough in preventive health, primary health or reforming the way we manage our hospital system.

“What Health Consumers Tasmania is seeing is declining trust in being able to access a GP, declining trust in both the capacity and the timeliness of ambulances arriving, declining trust in whether or not they will even be able to get through the front door at the hospital and admitted to a bed if needed, and declining trust in post-discharge care, including how they will get home.”

Julie Collins MP during Question Time at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Federal member for Franklin Julie Collins said the federal government was delivering major improvements in primary care, contrary to claims by state Health Minister Guy Barnett.

Since the first Medicare Urgent Care Clinics started operations in Tasmania in July there have been over 11,000 visits.

“The Medicare UCCs mean people across Tasmania who need urgent but not acute care, can get it quickly even if it’s outside standard hours – and all they’ll need is their Medicare card.

“These clinics are easing pressure on our state’s hospital emergency departments and the hardworking doctors and nurses who staff them, so that they can focus on higher-priority emergencies and lifesaving care.”