Tasmania’s emergency departments are performing among the poorest in the country, with new data showing only 46% of patients are seen on time – equal worst with the Northern Territory.
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare figures reveal the state is at or near the bottom across almost every major emergency care metric.
Just 38% of urgent patients commenced treatment within recommended times in 2024-25, while only 52% of semi-urgent patients were seen on time.
Long-term trends show the system has deteriorated significantly over the past decade. At Launceston General Hospital, on-time emergency care has plummeted from 72% in 2016-17 to just 43 per cent in 2024-25.
Performance at Royal Hobart Hospital has halved over the same period, falling from 78% to 39%
Shadow Health Minister Sarah Lovell said the results reflected a failure by the state government to provide adequate staff and resources.
“These results are not a reflection of Tasmania’s dedicated health workers, who do an extraordinary job every day in impossible circumstances,” she said.
“They reflect a government that has failed to give them the staff, resources and support they need to provide timely, safe care.”
Premier Jeremy Rockliff defended the government’s health record, pointing to achievements in elective surgery and Category 1 patient care.
“100% of our most serious Category 1 patients are being seen on time,” he said.
“We have record elective surgeries year on year, which is a tremendous achievement for our health professionals.”
The premier said the state was investing $10 million every day in health, with $14 billion allocated over the forward estimates.
He said he held a positive discussion with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in the past 24 hours regarding federal health funding.
Rockliff pointed to initiatives including expanding pharmacy services and reducing ambulance ramping by 17,000 hours.
“Those 17,000 hours means that ambulances and paramedics can be on the road supporting Tasmanians in need,” he said.
However, Lovell criticised the government’s response to the crisis.
“The Premier would be far better off employing real doctors instead of more spin,” she said.
“Tasmanians cannot trust the Liberals to fix the health system they have allowed to deteriorate for a decade.”
Rockliff says negotiations between state and federal governments on health funding are expected to continue over the coming week.
