Labor has proposed a statewide expansion of mobile healthcare clinics to deliver free primary care to vulnerable Tasmanians who struggle to access traditional GP services.
Leader Dean Winter unveiled plans to extend the mobile outreach service to northern and north-western Tasmania if elected, bringing it in line with services already available in the south.
The ‘TassieDoc 2U’ commitment includes $150,000 for a new purpose-built mobile clinic vehicle and $275,000 a year for five years to run the northern service.
“No matter where Tasmanians live – in cities, towns or the most remote corners – they can access primary healthcare for free when they need,” Winter said.
The proposal builds on Labor’s planned ‘TassieDoc’ network, which includes 10 free GP clinics and a 24/7 telehealth service.
Moreton Group Medical Services, which currently runs the southern mobile clinic, would take charge of the expanded operation.
“We potentially could look at another 2,000 people a year that can be supported,” Managing Director Robert Moreton said.
“We’re really looking to support people who are the most vulnerable, who can’t afford to see a GP, who might have been excluded from a GP practice or they might have been recently released from incarceration and can’t get back into a practice.”
Moreton said the funding would allow the service to hire full-time staff.
“By doubling the funding, by increasing the services in the north of the state, we can look to secure full-time nurse practitioners to work in the service,” Moreton said.
“At the moment, because we’re only funded [by the state government] for half the time, we can’t give anyone full-time employment and we’ve lost candidates to the mainland because of that.”
If elected, Labor hopes the service could be up and running within two to three months of funding being approved.
