The chief of Tasmania's peak doctors' body says the global COVID-19 pandemic may mean some workers continue to work from home in some capacity for the foreseeable future.

Lara Giddings, the State's first female Premier and a former Minister for Health took over as chief executive of the Tasmanian branch of the AMA in March 2019.

She said COVID-19 had firmly put working from home as a necessary option for those workplaces that could be flexible.

AMA Tasmania general response to budget:

AMA Tasmania welcomes today's Government announcements including into the critical and overdue investment in ICT. All parts of Tasmania's health care system must be based on the reality that all aspects of the health system are linked, and depend on each other to meet patient and community demand effectively, this can only be achieved by investment in IT infrastructure and a clear ICT strategy.  

AMA Tasmania Vice President Mr Scott Fletcher said, "our elective surgery lists are at an all-time high, and any increase in funding for elective surgery is welcomed as this will help us to manage that.  

We know Tasmanians are sitting on these waiting lists for far too long.  In the interest of those patients, the AMA welcomes the additional health funding but would like to see this develop into long-term sustained funding that allows appropriate planning and recruitment of staff.  

AMA Tasmania welcomes the government's announcement today confirming the return to a 24-hour service at the Mersey Community Hospital Emergency Department having successfully implemented the safe and sustainable resourced model of care needed to provide this welcomed and deserved service to the community.

Doctors have warned of a perfect storm for patients seeking treatment for non-COVID conditions, if the federal government doesn't commit further funding for public hospitals.

The Australian Medical Association Public Hospital Report Card 2020 shows a national increase in the number of patients presenting to emergency departments and longer waiting lists for treatment.

Inadequate funding, blowouts in elective surgery waiting lists and overstretched emergency departments are among a range of issues highlighted in a new report on the country’s public hospitals.

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Addressing bed block and under-staffing at Launceston General Hospital must be treated with the highest priority, if an exodus of senior doctors is to be avoided, a peak medical body has warned.

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Are you on a waitlist for surgery in Tasmania? How long have you been waiting? Earlier in the week Aaron Stevens heard a very concerning story from Mick of St Leonards, whose wife has been waiting 15 months for a category 1 surgery on her back. Listen as Dr John Saul, GP and AMA Tasmania Member, joins Aaron Stevens to discuss elective surgery waitlists in Tasmania, and the impact these delays are having on patients.

Listen here