Tasmanian taxpayers spent $68.2 million on fly-in, fly-out locum doctors in the last year, according to information obtained by Labor.
In the 2022-2023 financial year, the Royal Hobart Hospital received $17.5 million in locum spending, while the Launceston General Hospital was allocated $27.1 million, the North West Regional Hospital got $14.3 million and the Mersey Community Hospital received $9.2 million.
Shadow Health Minster Anita Dow believes almost $70 million spent “could have be used to support and retain existing staff, improve pay and conditions and employ more doctors across the health system”.
“If the Rockliff Government is serious about attracting doctors to Tasmania, it must be competitive with other states, who are facing their own shortages and are offering considerable attraction incentives.”
But Minister for Health Guy Barnett was less than convinced and said the “bizarre attack” from Labor was “nothing but negativity”.
He said the government spends over $8 million daily on healthcare, roughly equivalent to nine days worth of locum expenses.
“We are boosting our local health workforce and this is reflected in the new doctors and nurses wage agreements, which increases pay and improves conditions,” Barnett said.
“This will help us recruit and retain competitively with other States, therefore requiring less locums.”
He said 327 full-time equivalent health staff have been recruited in the 12 months to June 30.
