Blame game erupts in Tasmania over aged care shortages

Tasmania’s Health Minister says the Federal Government’s failure to build enough aged care beds is contributing to overcrowding at Launceston General Hospital (LGH).

With 22 patients stranded at LGH waiting for aged care and NDIS support, Liberal Minister Bridget Archer on Wednesday (15 July) said: “There is no doubt that bed block continues to significantly impact access and flow [at the hospital].”

This week, the hospital reached ‘critical capacity’, while the Emergency Department was at ‘over capacity.

Federal Government shifts blame

Federal Health Minister Mark Butler was in Launceston earlier this month, and viewed the hospital himself.

He acknowledged the problems at LGH after the visit, but said the real issues were in the Emergency Department, which would be helped by the new Urgent Care Clinics the Federal Government is building in Launceston and Burnie.

Minister Butler said: “We need to expand aged care supply. There’s no question about that. That’s putting pressure on hospital systems, it’s putting pressure on health systems and obviously the aged care system, which we’re trying to grow at a real pace.

“But the point I was making about the LGH yesterday ... is what was happening at the Emergency Department. We’re doing a whole bunch of things to relieve pressure at EDs.”

“Absolutely appalling”

But this week, Bridget Archer, Tasmania’s Minister for Health, Mental Health and Wellbeing, argued aged care placements are a Commonwealth responsibility.

“It’s absolutely appalling that they are happy to do nothing to fix these issues until the State is forced to step in,” she said.

“It is simply not good enough that the Commonwealth constantly wipes its hands of these issues and pretends that Urgent Care Centres are where its responsibilities end.”

State turns to private aged care operators

The Tasmanian Government has turned to private aged care operators to bring additional beds online.

“As an immediate solution, we are working with Calvary to transfer these patients to their facilities, which will free up beds and ensure more people can be seen sooner,” Minister Archer said.

“We are also working with the Launceston Health Hub to bring 20 additional aged care beds online at the Launceston Health Hub, with construction already underway and expected to come online early next year.

“We also continue to progress important upgrades to the LGH to alleviate demand pressures in the longer term, with construction starting soon on the Northern Heart Centre and the Mental Health Precinct, and a Development Application submitted to expand the size of the Emergency Department.”

Archer called on the Federal Government for additional funding for step-down beds.

In the meantime, she said: “We will step in and fund additional beds because it’s in the best interests of Tasmanians but we shouldn’t have to.”

The blame game continues.