Medical professionals working in emergency departments want solutions not research into helping ease the mounting pressure.

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt announced a $24 million research program to explore better ways to reduce wait times for Australians presenting to EDs.

READ MORE Five years on, Tasmanian man's discrimination battle set to continue

Australian Nursing and Midwifery Association Tasmania branch secretary Emily Shepherd said medical staff are already aware of what needs to happen.

"The challenges for EDs are already well understood and the funding that is being attributed to conduct this research would be better spent investing in ED avoidance strategies," she said.

The University of Tasmania will take on one of 10 research projects looking into improving emergency care - a $2.9 million project researching ways to implement clinical pathways for acute care in Tasmania.

Australian Medical Association Tasmania president Dr John Saul said the key problems "are really simple."

"Access blocking and lack of staff are the two main pressures we see," he said.

"We already know our hospitals and EDs are understaffed, we don't need research to tell us that."

READ MORE: Tasmanian retail sales near record high, but interest rates hike effect yet to be seen

Dr Saul said more people are heading to the ED rather than their GPs as Medicare struggles.

"We've got a federal government falling down in their support for primary care which is mainly GPs and as a result, we see not enough GP services available.

"The cost of see a GP is climbing and as a result, people are proceeding to EDs rather than to primary care."

Ms Shepherd said strategies include alternate community based models of care, better Medicare funding for nurse practitioners and to increase Medicare rebates for primary care.

READ MORE: 'The damage done can be overcome': Hannah Gadsby celebrates gay pride

As well as investing in preventative strategies to prevent the long term acute care needs of those with complex chronic health condition.

Ms Shepherd said there are numerous pressures on EDs, one which has been an issues of "many years."

"The most obvious and well documented one is access block," she said.

"This means that often those individuals who are presenting to the ED are waiting for much longer than the best practice timeframe for care, whether in the waiting room or ramped on an ambulance trolley, simply because ED's can not move those admitted patients from the ED into a ward or unit bed in a timely way, or there just isn't enough ward beds to meet the demand at any given time."

READ MORE: Festival keeps film fans entertained

Dr Saul said the medical system will continue to struggle.

"The reality is we need more staff now."

Why not have your say? Write a letter to the editor here:

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:

Alison Foletta has been a journalist for three years, working in the community to tell stories that matter. Before starting at The Examiner in Launceston, Tasmania she worked in Horsham, Victoria for The Wimmera Mail-Times. alison.foletta@austcommunitymedia.com.au

Alison Foletta has been a journalist for three years, working in the community to tell stories that matter. Before starting at The Examiner in Launceston, Tasmania she worked in Horsham, Victoria for The Wimmera Mail-Times. alison.foletta@austcommunitymedia.com.au

Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date.

We care about the protection of your data. Read our Privacy Policy.