More CPR for elective surgery waiting lists

ANOTHER year, another record spend on health in a bid to address Tasmanians’ poor health outcomes and make a dent in elective surgery waiting lists.

The budget includes $9.8bn over four years for health — $1.7 bn more than was budgeted last year.

The pandemic brought non-urgent elective surgery to a halt, again increasing the waiting list and blowing out waittimes.

There were 11,342 Tasmanians awaiting elective surgery in June.

The 2020-21 budget includes $45.5m to help clear the elective surgery back log.

Health Minister Sarah Courtney said the funding, together with $15m from the commonwealth, would pay for 8500 operations over the next 18months.

“This is a huge boost to our surgery capacity, with an estimated 19,000 surgeries now planned for the 2020-21 financial year ,” Ms Courtney said.

The state government has also funded stage two of the ongoing Royal Hobart Hospital redevelopment. The $89.9 m stage includes expanding the emergency department and intensive care unit.

The bulk of the funds will be spent in 2021-22.

Ms Courtney said the budget also included $299.3 mover four years to open more beds at the RHH.

Other health spending initiatives include:

$78 mf or the Launceston General Hospital redevelopment.

$32m for Mersey Community Hospital capital upgrades.

$4.1m for maternity services at North West Regional Hospital.

$4m to improve Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services.

$12 mf or mental health and alcohol and drug services reform.

GP John Saul, of the Australian Medical Association Tasmania, said the spending was overly weighted towards infrastructure over the people power the health system so badlyneeded.