Less than one third of patients seen within time at RHH ED – $700 million worth of cuts are on the way

After 13 years of Liberal waste Tasmania’s health system is at breaking point, with patients enduring dangerously lengthy waits in emergency departments across the state.  

While all the attention has been on the Launceston General Hospital, Royal Hobart Hospital's ‘seen within time’ stats show the situation for Tasmania’s largest emergency department is just as worrying.  

On average, a scarily low 31 per cent of patients were seen within the clinically recommended time across all triage categories at the RHH emergency department last week.

Even scarier, just 44 per cent of patients presenting with “imminently life-threatening conditions” were seen within the clinically recommended time – dropping to a frightening low of 33 per cent on Monday 13 July.  

These stats are not a reflection of Tasmania’s healthcare professionals, who are doing everything they can to provide patients with the care they need, in the time they need it.  

They are a reflection of a government willing to make waiting in pain the standard.  

Premier Rockliff, Treasurer Eric Abetz, and Health Minister Bridget Archer need to explain how $700 million in health cuts will improve anything for anyone.  

Tasmanians deserve confidence that when they need emergency care, they’ll receive it without delay.  

These unacceptable delays are a symptom of a healthcare system that has been pushed to breaking point after 13 years of Liberal waste.