A Dean Winter Labor Government will start TassieDoc – to give Tasmanians a Fresh Start and ensure they can see a regular doctor for free.

We will open 10 new, 100% free, fully bulk-billed doctors’ clinics across the state helping to take pressure off hospitals, improve access to healthcare and ensuring Tasmanians can see a doctor when they need one.

Labor’s free doctor clinics will:

• Help more Tasmanians to see a doctor when they need one, for free
• Make it easier to see a doctor outside of standard business hours
• Take pressure off hospitals

Why we need it

Tasmanians need cost of living relief and more access to healthcare. TassieDoc addresses the two biggest challenges Tasmanians are facing – a lack of access to basic healthcare in their community, and cost of living pressure.

Right now, it’s too hard to find free regular doctor clinics in Tasmania. Our Urgent Care Clinics are great, but they are for urgent care, not regular doctor appointments.

Tasmanians can’t get into a doctor when they need one and are waiting too long to receive basic care. People are putting off GP appointments because they can’t afford them.

The details

Labor will make it easier to see a doctor by setting up
10 free GP clinics across Tasmania, in areas where there is a clear community need.

TassieDoc clinics across the state will be:

• Fully bulk-billed, with no out of pocket costs.
• Open late, on weekends, with appointments available face to face and via telehealth to improve accessibility for working families and people with complex schedules.
• Staffed by doctors supported with recruitment and retention incentives.

Existing state-owned facilities will be used where possible. A Dean Winter Labor Government will provide clinic space and cover administrative and overhead expenses for the clinics, including nursing and support staff. Doctors will work as independent contractors and be paid through Medicare.

The clinics will each host four full-time equivalent GPs, delivering 20,000 more bulk-billed appointments at each of the 10 locations, every year. Together the clinics will provide a total of 200,000 extra bulk-billed GP appointments every year.

A Dean Winter Labor Government will also invest in the workforce to make this plan work - offering scholarships for midwives and incentives to recruit and retain doctors across the state - ensuring quality care is available in every community.

TassieDoc will complement existing local GPs by providing additional options for people who require appointments at short notice, do not have a regular GP or who might otherwise present at an Emergency Department.