Despite the state budget losing more than $500 million in GST, the Hodgman Liberal Government is still investing a record $6 billion in health over four years, including $51 million more added in the recent budget.
Just yesterday we acted to ease the pressure on the emergency department at the LGH, with extra nurses to be employed and 12 additional beds to open for as long as required. This was the result of significant consultation between THS management and government.
This announcement was welcomed by most stakeholders, including even the Labor Party.
We are also continuing to implement Patients First at the Royal Hobart Hospital, with preparations underway for up to an additional 10 beds to be flexed open to assist the RHH in meeting additional demand through the winter period.
Dr Greenaway’s comments today are disappointing because we cannot simply spend money we don't have and the record amount we do have needs to be used carefully to get the best for our community.
We are working with all stakeholders to implement our Plan to fix the broken health system we inherited, and I again invite the AMA to work with us constructively on this.
Despite the comments from Dr Greenaway, the Government enjoys and appreciates the policy input and hard work every day of our frontline health professionals. The government has shown that it will always do what needs to be done to fund and reform the broken health system.