A re-elected majority Rockliff Liberal Government will provide a massive staff and cash injection to our health system, recruiting an additional 44 full-time doctors and 25 full-time nurses at the Royal Hobart Hospital Emergency Department; and undertaking $187 million in capital upgrades.

The additional staffing will ensure that the recently expanded RHH Emergency Department will be able to operate to its maximum capacity, 24/7.

While the capital upgrades will provide a host of new contemporary and fit-for-purpose health facilities.

Premier Jeremy Rockliff said that building a better health system was a cornerstone of the Liberals’ 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania’s Future.

“Since 2014, we’ve delivered an additional 298 hospital beds and employed an extra 2500 health professionals including 1,390 nurses – but there’s more work to do and our health system still needs to be better,” Premier Rockliff said.

“The Royal Hobart Hospital is the cornerstone of our entire state-wide health system and these upgrades and the injection of additional staff will help to ensure Tasmanians right around the state get timely access to emergency health treatment if and when they need.”

“Every day I pay tribute to our hard-working medical professionals, who are the backbone of our health system.

“By recruiting an additional 44 full-time doctors and 25 full-time nurses for the Royal Hobart Hospital, we will be able to ensure that the Royal’s recently expanded ED will be firing on all cylinders 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Minister for Health, Guy Barnett said this announcement builds on the Liberals’ strong record of investing in the Royal Hobart Hospital.

“When we came to Government the health system was a mess, and after a wasted decade the former Labor-Green Government hadn’t even laid a single brick on the RHH development,” Minister Barnett said.

Since 2014, we’ve delivered the new RHH K-block and helipad, an expanded ICU, a renovated 38-bed cardiology unit, the new outpatient and pre-admission clinics on Liverpool Street, and a $13.8 million endoscopy suite.

“We’re also building a $22 million state-of-the-art Hospital Pharmacy, and a second angiography suite.

“Now, we are delivering the next stage of improving the Royal with $187 million in further upgrades.

“We are also recruiting the health professionals we need to operate these fantastic new facilities at maximum capacity.

“The first stage of the expanded ED opened in 2023, and delivered a 34 per cent boost to capacity and additional improvements, including a new $10 million purpose-built short stay unit, which added another 28 bed spaces to improve operational efficiency, infection control and patient privacy.

“We've been steadily recruiting to the expanded ED since opening; the additional funding will see every one of the 82 treatment points open, for 24 hours a day.

“It will help the Hospital see more patients on time who present to Emergency, and also help meet our strict new protocols to get ambulances off the ramp, and paramedics back on the road.”

The policy:

• Additional 44 full-time doctors and 25 full-time nurses for the RHH Emergency Department;
• Refurbishment of A block, replacing the ageing facade, roof and further renovations;
• A new neurology/stroke ward delivering services for patients with stroke, neurological disorders or acquired brain injury;
• A new rapid assessment medical unit;
• A new medical sub-specialties ward;
• The co-location of cancer services and medical services to support improved patient experiences; and
• Refurbishment of the older persons unit into a secure ward to meet the needs of those suffering dementia.

Cost: Invest $88 million over four years for staff, and $187 million over six years for capital upgrades.