AMA Tasmania urges independent inquiry into public health system
20 Oct 2026
AMA Tasmania President Dr Meg Creely said a patient’s death following reported ambulance delays, alongside growing hospital waiting lists and repeated emergency pressures, highlighted the need for a broader investigation.
She said the inquiry should examine why similar problems continue despite previous reforms and identify practical solutions to improve patient care.
While acknowledging the Legislative Council’s inquiry into the Department of Health’s financial and operational performance, Dr Creely said a wider review was needed to assess the entire public health system and its long-term sustainability.
Tasmania spends about $3.7 billion annually on health services. However, hospitals remain under pressure, patients face lengthy waits and the state continues to depend on temporary medical staff. In 2024–25, spending on medical locums reached almost $105 million.
Dr Creely said the issue was not only about increasing funding but also ensuring resources were used effectively and services were organised to meet community needs.
AMA Tasmania wants a two-year, adequately funded inquiry led by independent experts, with its findings and recommendations presented to the Tasmanian Parliament.
The proposed investigation would cover hospital infrastructure, bed availability, patient flow, diagnostic and specialist services, workforce planning, digital health, governance, financial management and access to care in rural and regional communities.
It would also assess future hospital needs, including proposals for new hospitals in north-west and southern Tasmania, and examine how Launceston General Hospital could meet future demand.
The inquiry would help develop a long-term plan for Tasmania’s public health system, including a statewide Clinical Services Plan covering the next five to ten years, supported by funding, workforce and infrastructure strategies.
Dr Creely said the inquiry should establish the facts, identify areas requiring improvement and recommend practical changes without delaying urgent action on patient safety, hospital capacity, recruitment and access to care.
AMA Tasmania said an independent review could help establish a more sustainable, accountable health system that better supports healthcare professionals and meets the needs of Tasmanians.
AMA Tasmania urges independent inquiry into public health system
Source: Australian Medical Association (AMA)