LGH Community Support

14/07/2026

"Impacted" capacity at the LGH due to high demand is not new.

It's been happening for in excess of 15 years and in that time little has been done to properly address the issue.

Claims from our government(s) - especially in the last 12 years- that they've "injected unprecedented funding" and that the lack of access and flow and the resultant bed block, are common in all states and territories, (as if this makes the situation okay) provide absolutely no consolation to those who lose their lives, or, whose illnesses escalate because of a lack of timely health care.

Anyone who's experienced hours and even days in the LHG ED, has witnessed the pressure cooker and unsafe work environment that staff endure as the result of that "Impacted" capacity.

Tasmania's top health official says the Launceston General Hospital is experiencing "impacted" capacity and is urging patients to only attend if it is a medical emergency.

07/07/2026

**Federal Health Minister Mark Butler says that historically things have been operationally wrong at the LGH
** ANMF TAS Branch secretary Emily Shepherd says that diagnostic and allied health professionals need to work 24 hours a day as a means of improving access and flow at the LGH

07/07/2026

Last night - more than 40 patients could not be allocated a bed in the LGH ED...

Leon Compton, ABC Radio Hobart Mornings:

ANMF Tas Branch Secretary Emily Shepherd ...says more than 40 patients had not been not allocated a bed in the emergency department, and people were on trolleys in hallways and being treated in the waiting room.

On Tasmania Mornings, Emily asks Federal Health Minister Mark Butler his take on the situation, and why both state and federal government funding has been pulled from the Comprehensive Palliative Care and Aged Care program.

I've been hearing these stories about the LGH for a number of years now and there just seems to be something operationally that could be improved there," he says.

05/05/2026

23/03/2026

The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) Tasmania has raised alarming reports from nurses about patient outcomes at the Launceston General Hospital Emergency Department.

According to our members:
• Patients have died after waiting extended periods for a bed in the ED

• Patients who are placed in corridors without oxygen, suction or continuous monitoring are at risk of missed deterioration and death.

• Patients waited hours to be offloaded from an ambulance and died
within an hour of finally receiving an ED bed

• Nurses report these situations are occurring in the context of prolonged wait times and care being delivered in unsuitable spaces Nurses and midwives have consistently raised concerns about access, flow, and resourcing across the health system. They are now questioning whether these outcomes could have been avoided.

No nurse should be placed in a position where patients are waiting for care in corridors. No patient should be left without appropriate monitoring or treatment due to system pressures.

Tasmanians deserve a health system that can provide safe, timely care.

Read the full article in today's Mercury.

11/02/2026

From Tasmanian Health Minister Bridget Archer:

" More parking is on the way at the Launceston General Hospital."

"Construction is officially underway on our new seven-storey car park - providing 474 new parking spaces for visitors, patients and hardworking staff."

28/01/2026

If you’re a patient, visitor or staff member, how have you found the air conditioning at the LGH during this week’s hot weather?

Last week a patient and their family members reported that the new air conditioning in the maternity ward was great and a big improvement on their previous experience in that ward.

But if you’re a patient in a ward that is still without proper air conditioning, would you describe your experience this week as acceptable, tolerable and conducive to healing and recovery, or the opposite?

If you’re a staff member, has the combination of inadequate air conditioning and this week’s hot weather negatively impacted your work conditions?

13/01/2026

Time and time again patients and their loved ones express their gratitude for the care and treatment they receive from our amazing LGH staff.❤️
This letter of thanks is in today’s Examiner.