Ferguson gets an F on health

Shadow Health Minister Rebecca White said the state’s main hospital, the Royal Hobart Hospital, has failed a number of standards that lead to national accreditation.

“According to reports, the Australian Council of Healthcare Standards has raised concerns about a number of areas including infrastructure, nursing, medical and mental health,” Ms White said.

“Failing standards that lead to accreditation is an enormous wake-up call to Minister Michael Ferguson and a warning that he cannot continue to put the health system under budget pressure.

“Just last week the state’s emergency departments were found to be the worst in the country for wait times and had gotten worse since the Liberals came to government.

“The pressure on nursing staff has seen industrial action commence in relation to the number of double shifts nurses are doing.

“There is a lack of leadership with no permanent CEO appointed to manage the Tasmanian Health Service and no permanent general manager at the hospital.

“These are all signs of a health system and a hospital under immense pressure and now the Royal Hobart Hospital has failed to meet key standards.

“There is no question about why this has happened. Staff are under enormous pressure and they are struggling to keep up with demand.”
Rebecca White MP Shadow Health Minister