Tas govt plan 'to improve hospital care'

Specialist nurses will be recruited to give advice to patients in Tasmanian hospital waiting rooms as part of a plan to ease pressure on the state's emergency departments.

Health Minister Michael Ferguson on Tuesday announced 19 reforms, endorsed by cabinet, to improve care at the emergency departments of the Royal Hobart and Launceston General hospitals, which he announced recently were not up to scratch.

"These actions, including those to open more flex beds and recruit additional staff, are able to be achieved using resources already available to the Tasmanian health system," the minister said.