Closing doors to cut waiting times has been proposed by one federal MP, who thinks his state simply has too many public hospitals.

The Independent member for Denison, Andrew Wilkie, says one hospital in Tasmania’s north should shut its doors to consolidate staff levels state-wide.

Mr Wilkie says services are unevenly distributed, with three hospitals in Tasmania’s north and just one in the south, and it has created ever-increasing wait times for surgery.

A recent report from the Productivity Commission said 11.5 per cent of Tasmanian patients have to wait over than a year for elective surgery, four times the national average.

Mr Wilkie claims fewer outlets for help will enhance the services across all those remaining.

“Currently there are three public hospitals in the north of the state servicing half the population, and one public hospital in the south of the state,” he said.

“The State Government should show a bit of backbone, and commit to closing one of the northern hospitals.”

“That will free up the money, the resources and the staff to be distributed among the remaining three hospitals.”

Both Labor and Liberal parties have rejected the idea, with Tasmanian Premier Lara Giddings saying things are already improving.

“We have the lowest number of people waiting on our elective surgery waiting lists since 2006,” she said.

“That is a great credit to the Health Minister in the work that Michelle O'Byrne has done in driving down elective surgery waiting lists,” she said.

“Mr Wilkie is right to be concerned with the Tasmanian health system,” said the Member for Braddon, Brett Whiteley.

“I invite Mr Wilkie to spend some time outside his Hobart electorate meeting with residents in the North-West that rely on these hospitals for their health care.”

“Unlike Hobart, there is no public transport service to take patients to the hospital. Unlike Hobart, there are few specialist services outside of the hospitals and unlike Hobart, Northern hospitals don't house masses of bureaucrats,” Mr Whiteley said.