A re-elected majority Liberal Government will nearly double the size of the Emergency Department at the Launceston General Hospital as part of a new $53 million redevelopment.

Premier Jeremy Rockliff said that building a better health system was a cornerstone of the Liberals’ 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania’s Future.

“We’re already investing $580 million in the LGH Stage 2 redevelopment, and now we’re boosting that to $633 million with an addition $53 million,” Premier Rockliff said.

“The Emergency Department Expansion will nearly double the size of the existing ED floor space to meet the increasing demand today, and into the future.

“This will be the single biggest renovation of the Emergency Department since it was built over four decades ago in 1981, expanding the ED across two floors.

“The expansion will include a new and improved Emergency Medical Unit for patients who’ll be discharged in less than 24 hours, and a new and improved Acute Medical Unit for patients needing just a couple of days admission.

“It will also include an expanded fast track area, new waiting area and an improved public entrance.

“We’ll also build a new multi-story carpark on the corner of Howick and Charles Streets to cater for additional services and demand at the LGH, to commence late 2024.

“Every single element of the expansion will help to lower waiting times and improve health outcomes for every local needing emergency care at the LGH.

“We’ve come a long way since our election, delivering an extra 298 hospital beds statewide and 2,500 health professionals including 1,390 nurses, but we know that there’s still more work to do.

“Just last year, there were around 47,000 presentations to the LGH emergency department, and as our population grows and we all age, that will only increase.

“That’s why this $53 million Emergency Department Expansion is so important to the North, and its surrounds.

The Minister for Health Guy Barnett said the expansion was an important addition to the work that’s already in full swing at the LGH.

“Our 10-year redevelopment plan for the LGH is delivering critical health services for Launceston and the North of the state,” Minister Barnett said.

“Our $580 million investment in Stage Two at the LGH has already delivered a new Women’s and Children’s precinct, the Anne O’Byrne Education Centre and newly refurbished 38 bed medical ward.

“This is a big turnaround from the dark days in health under the Labor-Green minority, when they cut the health budget, shut wards and sacked one nurse a day for nine months.

“What’s worse, is that right here at the LGH, Labor and the Greens took the beds out of the wards and put them in storage.

“In contrast, our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania’s Future is all about taking more action now on the issues affecting Tasmanians, including health.”

Detailed planning and scoping work will start immediately under a re-elected majority Liberal Government, with design and tenders to follow, before construction which is scheduled to begin in 2025.