The state government has announced another blitz to reduce the long waiting list for endoscopies in the public health system. <\/p>\n
Minister for Heath, Mental Health and Wellbeing Bridget Archer announced a $40m boost in funding to increase capacity and deliver nearly 9000 additional procedures across the next three years.<\/p>\n
It is intended to completely clear the waitlist for Category 1 patients who are outside recommended wait times by June 30, 2028, and ensure that \u201cmost\u201d patients are seen within clinically recommended time frames.<\/p>\n
It is the second endoscopy blitz the state government has announced in three years. <\/p>\n
In 2023, the government announced $38.75m under the Statewide Endoscopy Services Four-Year Plan.<\/p>\n
It was intended to deliver an additional 22,000 endoscopies between July 2023 and June 2027, resulting in more than 52,000 procedures ensuring \u201cmost people will be seen within clinically recommended times\u201d.<\/p>\n
In 2021\/22 there were 11,935 endoscopies carried out in the public health system. <\/p>\n
That figure rose to nearly 14,000 in 2024\/25 and 13,500 in 2025\/26.<\/p>\n
\u201cDespite these record volumes, demand has continued to grow substantially following changes to the National Bowel Cancer Screening program, and we are responding with this significant investment to ensure more patients get their procedure sooner,\u201d Mrs Archer said. <\/p>\n
\u201cThere will be immediate focus to bring down the Category 1 waitlist, with an increased focus on providing weekend surgical lists and increased outsourcing through private providers.\u201d<\/p>\n
The minister rejected opposition claims the health budget was being cut. <\/p>\n
\u201cToday\u2019s announcement once again confirms this \u2013 we are making savings to reinvest into the frontline,\u201d she said. \u200b<\/p>\n
Labor health spokeswoman Sarah Lovell said the announcement was a response to public pressure. <\/p>\n
\u201cI have very little confidence that this announcement will actually do what she says it\u2019s going to do in terms of clearing the waitlist and ensuring that people are seen within clinically recommended times,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s also be really clear about what this is: this is an announcement that they have made because we had somebody speak out really bravely about their situation just a couple of months ago. <\/p>\n
\u201cA gentleman in the northwest who had been told he needed a colonoscopy. He was in category one, the most urgent category, and instead of being seen within 30 days, he would have to wait six to 12 months. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe hear these stories all the time. No Tasmanian should have to front up in front of a news camera or have questions asked on their behalf in parliament and go public about a really vulnerable situation to essentially beg for healthcare. <\/p>\n
\u201cBut this is what we\u2019re seeing today as a response to that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Despite the blitz on diagnosis, there remain long delays in treatment. <\/p>\n
For example, the current wait time for an appointment at the public Gastroenterology Clinic in the state\u2019s north is 505 days for urgent cases and 1021 days for semi urgent cases, 344 and 833 days in the northwest and 101 and 630 days in the south. <\/p>\n