• Premier admits crisis – but Ferguson refuses
• Elderly woman sent home late at night as staff struggle to cope with broken system
Health Minister Michael Ferguson has continued to refuse to acknowledge the state-wide meltdown of Tasmania’s hospital system despite the Premier confirming the crisis in health.
Labor leader Rebecca White said despite evidence which continues to mount every day that Tasmanians are being badly let down by the hospital system under Mr Ferguson’s watch, he refused to see what is clear to everyone.
Ms White said Mr Ferguson was today in State Parliament provided with the horrifying details of an elderly woman who was sent home from the Mersey Community Hospital in a taxi at 11.30pm last Thursday – but denied the incident was symptomatic of a system in crisis.
“The Premier has acknowledged and confirmed the health crisis on the record during the Budget Estimates hearings last week,” Ms White said.
“But Mr Ferguson – despite overwhelming evidence that his cuts to the health system and hospitals have now resulted in a crisis – will admit to nothing more than increased patient demand for beds.
“It’s horrifying that this sick and elderly woman was sent home late at night in winter because staff were under such intense pressure and highlights the danger patients are frequently being placed in.
“This woman is a retired nurse with chronic health issues and was taken to the Mersey Community Hospital for the third time in a fortnight by ambulance.
“But at 11.30pm because staff were under such pressure she was sent home.
“She was placed in a taxi in the middle of the night in winter, despite the fact that staff had phoned her home and received no answer from her husband who is deaf – she did not even have a key to get in the front door.
“If it had not been for the kindness of the taxi driver who helped her find her key, it’s unimaginable what might have happened to her.
“The fact is Michael Ferguson has slashed health services to such an extent that our hospitals are unacceptably under-resourced and patients and staff are under incredible pressure but he arrogantly refuses to see the crisis, let alone try to fix it.”
Rebecca White MP Labor Leader