Tasmanians are waiting years instead of days to access vital ear, nose and throat specialist appointments. The Department of Health is trying to find a solution.
In Tasmania's south urgent patients wait an average of 474 days for an appointment, while it's an average 1291 day wait for semi-urgent patients.
"We're seeing people repetitively with ear infections that we know could be treated with grommets, or tonsillitis we know could be treated with removal of tonsils."Tasmania's Labor opposition said it was unacceptable that children and adults were waiting too long to see specialists. "They want their children to thrive, they want them to grow and develop and access to these vital health services is paramount and making that happen."
Department of Health Secretary Kathrine Morgan-Wicks says a working group is exploring outsourcing options with Victoria. That working group is part of the Tasmanian government's outpatient transformation program which was launched last year.
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