Ms White has not committed to open a single extra hospital bed, in fact the only beds she’s promised patients are in a hotel already full of tourists. This is a disastrous experiment in the making.
In contrast, the Government is delivering on our commitment to open new beds.
Over 70 new beds have already been opened around the State, with more beds opening in coming months.
In the south, 10 beds have been opened at the Roy Fagan Centre, 8 beds have been made available at the Hobart Private, 2 new beds have been opened at the RHH Intensive Care Unit and 7 beds have been opened at the New Norfolk Hospital. The Government is progressing plans to open more than 30 new beds in the south as soon as possible.
In Government we have employed more than 100 additional nurses and 40 extra full-time doctors. We’ve introduced new extended care paramedics in Hobart taking pressure of the Royal and six months on they have helped almost 1000 people.
We are also recruiting for a new, additional, 24/7 ambulance crew based at Glenorchy supporting the Greater Hobart area.
And of course, we are delivering more than 250 new beds as part of the Royal Hobart Hospital redevelopment, which is back on track after Labor bungled it.
Ms White’s attack is as disappointing as it is predictable. Whingeing won’t solve anything.
Ms White is peddling despair but gleeful when patients are waiting too long while the Government is focused on delivering real outcomes for Tasmanians.