SYDNEY, July 3 (Xinhua) -- Staff shortages and increasing waiting times have become so bad across Tasmania's health system that independent member of the parliament Andrew Wilkie has labelled the situation a "crisis."
In order to address the matter in the island state, Wilkie told Tasmania's Mercury Newspaper on Wednesday "I'll meet with Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt this afternoon to discuss the crisis in the Tasmanian health system, and the ways in which the Federal Government might help."
"In particular, I will press the minister to ensure that the Tasmanian government starts spending on health all the federal Goods and Services Tax (GST) money it receives earmarked for health."
"Since 2014 approximately 1.6 billion Australian dollars (1.1 billion U.S. dollars) in health-related GST funding for Tasmania has been diverted to other areas by the state government."
With a 23 percent jump in waiting lists for elective surgery over the past year, the hospital system appears to be struggling under immense pressure.
Last Thursday, the issue of staff shortages was comically brought to a head when local media reported that a patient's relative was forced to drive an ambulance to the Royal Hobart Hospital because only one paramedic was sent to the scene.
"The workload on that particular night was very severe, there was no other option at the time," Tim Jacobson from the Health and Community Services Union told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
"Obviously having a relative driving an ambulance is not optimal, and given the heightened circumstances and the distraction for people driving an emergency vehicle in those circumstances, it's just not an acceptable arrangement."
"Workers' health and safety is being put at risk and the community's health and safety is being put at risk," he added.
