Worst Results on Record for Emergency Departments

Cassy O'Connor MP - Friday, 27 August 2021

Tags: Health Crisis, Health, Hospitals

Cassy O'Connor MP | Greens Leader

Today’s HealthStats Dashboard update paints an alarming picture of a hospital system in continued decline, with key statistics for Tasmania’s emergency departments reaching new lows.

The August Dashboard update shows the following statistics for July are the worst on record. Only 53% of patients left emergency departments within four hours and only 52% were seen on time.

Not only that, but only 40% of Category 3 patients (those with potentially life threatening conditions or in severe discomfort or distress) were seen on time – nearly half the national benchmark of 75%.

These are not isolated incidents or a blip. The rolling 12 month average for these key measurements has been in decline across the board, with the following results compared to this time last year.

The July 2021 statistics for all of these measurements are also the worst on record*.

These results are shocking, but for any Tasmanian who has had the misfortune of visiting one of the state’s emergency departments, they will not come as a shock.

While this year’s band-aid budget has some additional funding for health, there was no dedicated money to increased staffing levels in hospitals. Given these figures, how it’s been neglected is beyond comprehension.

Doctors, nurses, and other staff are working extremely hard and under intense pressure to look after Tasmanians, but they continue to be let down by the Liberals’ failure to invest what’s needed.

table of Emergency Department statistics