An ED specialist is improving after he was critically wounded in an alleged stabbing attack at a regional hospital, the Tasmanian premier says.

The doctor was treated by his ED colleagues in the immediate aftermath, before he was airlifted to Royal Hobart Hospital from the North West Regional Hospital in Burnie.

On Monday, a 17-year-old was charged with wounding, two counts of assault and threatening police.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Premier Jeremy Rockliff said the doctor’s condition had improved, although he was still classed as critical.