On behalf of the Greens I’m proud to today launch our plan to fix the terrible shortage of nurses and midwives in Tasmania.
After a decade of the Liberals, Tasmania’s health system is a mess. People are waiting hours for an ambulance or hospital bed, and waiting years for much-needed surgery. Staff are under ever-more intense strain, and they’re suffering the consequences.
Every few years we’ve seen Liberal politicians make big health promises come election time, but they’ve only delivered worse and worse outcomes for our community. Something needs to change.
While the Liberals have completely failed on health, Labor have released some encouraging policies this election campaign. This is good news, and shows that positive change for our health system is possible. With the Greens in balance of power we will fight to make sure Labor goes further, and invests properly in the action that’s really needed for a better health system.
Our plan would expand the nursing workforce at each of Tasmania’s major hospitals. We would support much-needed positions in key roles like ED nurse navigators, discharge nurses, unit managers, psychiatric care, and clinical support. These roles are critical to improving individual patient care, and to making sure hospitals function better by reducing ambulance ramping and improving patient flow.
Our plan to employ 120 new nurses each year would take a big investment – but that’s what the current crisis demands. Tasmanian governments can’t keep tinkering around the edges of the health system and expect things to improve. We are confident this is a far better use of taxpayers’ money than, for example, handing out $30 million to the racing industry each year.
Investing in the nurses Tasmania needs is a major budget commitment, but if we want a safe and reliable health system there’s no question this must be the priority for any good government. By finally making big corporations pay their fair share, we can invest in attracting and keeping critical staff, fund more nurse positions, and deliver real improvements in health.
With a new government and the Greens in balance of power, we’ll fight to make sure Tasmania’s health system is finally given the support it needs.
Read our policy here
