The Hodgman Liberal Government has delivered the biggest ever boost to health funding which is opening 106 more beds and employing more hospital staff.
While waiting lists are at a record low – we know there is always more to be done.
That’s why the Government is investing an additional $14.3 million for elective surgeries and endoscopies – which equates to more than 3,100 Tasmanians getting their surgery or endoscopy sooner.
This includes $6.4 million of Commonwealth funding we are directing to where it is most needed – providing additional surgeries.
The Commonwealth component will result in 765 additional surgeries, with an additional 900 to be provided from state funding, including 500 eye surgeries in North and North West Tasmania.
State funding will also provide 1,500 endoscopies, including colonoscopies, across Tasmania.
Our additional investment comes on top of the extra $76 million for elective surgery we promised when coming to Government.
This resulted in shorter waiting times, and almost 20,000 Tasmanians receiving elective surgery in the twelve months to March 2017 – almost 20 per cent more than the year prior.
Today, fewer than 1 in 5 Tasmanians on the waiting list are waiting longer than clinically recommended, compared to almost half the waiting list in 2013.
The Hodgman Government is working hard to deliver the health system Tasmanians deserve and we will continue to reduce elective surgery wait times so patients can get the operation they need sooner.