Hospitals at new crisis point as Michael Ferguson – again – fails to act

• What will it take for Michael Ferguson and the government to act?
• Frontline staff assaulted, staff safety at crisis point
• Code Blacks instigated, ambulance ramping at unacceptable levels while Ferguson turns a blind eye
Frontline medical staff are being placed at unacceptable risk while the Hodgman Liberal Government and Health Minister Michael Ferguson continue to ignore the escalating crisis in Tasmanian hospitals.
Shadow Health Minister Sarah Lovell said Mr Ferguson had done nothing to address the urgent need to boost frontline services despite clear evidence that emergency departments had reached a new crisis level and staff were unable to cope with demand at the same time resources had been cut.
“What is it going to take for Michael Ferguson to take notice, admit there is a crisis in our hospitals and emergency departments and actually do something other than try to spin his way out of this emergency?” Ms Lovell said.
“It’s appalling that we have reached the point where on Wednesday night three staff at the Launceston General Hospital were assaulted and suffered injuries.
“It’s not acceptable that nine Code Black alerts needed to be instigated within 24 hours because of serious threats to the personal safety of staff.
“It’s unacceptable that the latest figures from the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine show Tasmania has some of the country’s worst emergency waiting times and it’s not OK that the government’s own advice just this week shows that patients suffering mental ill health are waiting for up to six days at the Royal Hobart Hospital to receive care.
“The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation is telling Michael Ferguson that the LGH emergency department resembles “a crisis zone” and there is no reprieve in sight.
“But, true to form, he is just not listening.
“Michael Ferguson needs to be talking to clinicians, nurses and other staff at the frontline to get an understanding of the level of this crisis.
“Michael Ferguson needs to be doing everything he can to ensure the safety of both staff and patients.
“Michael Ferguson needs to be taking action.”
Sarah Lovell MLC Shadow Health and Preventative Health Care Minister