The Department of Health’s annual report is a distressing read, with a number of terrible new records broken.
There are just too many truly awful results in this report to note them all. Across our hospitals, ambulance services, and communities we’re seeing a system that has been starved and neglected for so long that it’s no longer working.
Three key examples where historically bad results have been recorded are:
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Fewer urgent elective surgery patients being seen within clinically recommended timeframes than ever before (62.4% seen on time – eclipsing a previous low in 2022/23)
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The worst emergency ambulance response times on record (statewide median response time (15.4 minutes – the first time above 15 minutes)
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Fewer emergency department patients being seen within clinically recommended timeframes than ever before (just 45.2% of ED patients seen on time – continuing a rapid decline from 64.6% in 2019/20)
The government can’t spin these results. They speak for themselves. And they show again why it’s so shockingly reckless to cut $700 million from the system.
These figures aren’t just worrying – they are downright dangerous. Whether its for surgery, an ambulance, or for hospital care, every person waiting too long is at greater risk.
It’s time for the Rockliff Government to stop the blame game and the excuses. And most importantly, they need to stop making the stadium a higher priority than delivering Tasmanians the health services they deserve.
