Full redesign of Royal Hobart Hospital emergency department shelved in cost cutting measures

Revised plans are being developed to see a smaller ED with fewer treatment points than initially planned to deal with increasing demand.

The RHH will no longer have a fit-for-purpose ED that can meet current demand, let alone the increasing demand we know is coming over the next decade and beyond.

Delivering a cut-down redevelopment and using substandard space to compensate is not building the infrastructure Tasmanians need now, let alone in ten years.

The last thing we need is for taxpayers' money to be used on a facility that is not fit for purpose.

The reality is that any revision will not deliver the increased ambulance bays required to reduce ramping or the increased number of lay-down beds needed to meet today's demand peaks.

This makes a mockery of the government's plan to ban ramping.

We believe an old ward, known as Ward 3J, meant to be used as a decant space while the redevelopment occurs, will become a permanent part of the ED. This space does not meet modern guidelines for patient safety, patient privacy, and the requirement to be co-located with an ED.

The AMA can't stand by to watch an expensive substandard redevelopment occur because the government is not prepared to find the extra $50m to finish the project.

The increase in cost is largely due to nationwide rises in building expenses, as well as complexities associated with constructing on a brownfield site.

Any cost-cutting alternative will compromise patient health and put frontline healthcare workers at risk.

Anyone who has been to a public hospital emergency department recently knows they’ll be in for a long wait before they will be seen by medical or nursing staff, who are trying to do their best to see patients in an over-crowded facility.

A modern purpose-built ED, designed to handle the diverse range of patients who need urgent care, is essential for our healthcare system.

A supportive work environment is not a luxury but a necessity for nurses, doctors, and all medical staff. It enables them to provide patients with the best care and maintain their well-being. It is crucial that their workplace meets the highest health standards.

EDs are the frontline of our healthcare system, providing 24-hour care for urgent medical needs. In the last five years, ED waiting times have worsened significantly. More patients are presenting with severe conditions, but hospitals are struggling with access blocks and ambulance ramping.

Healthcare is not just a cost but an investment in our economic productivity. Healthy individuals are more likely to work, contribute to society, and reduce the need for expensive medical interventions. Good health is foundational to a thriving economy.

Hospitals face a critical shortage of beds, leading to extended ED stays and treatment delays. Patients often wait hours or even days in the ED before being admitted to a hospital ward. Overcrowded EDs also mean ambulances wait longer to unload patients, delaying response times and impacting patient outcomes.

Our healthcare workforce is overburdened, and there needs to be more staff to operate the available beds, worsening the crisis.

Investments in infrastructure that supports the health of our community must be the government's priority.