The COAG Reform Council report Healthcare 2011-12: Comparing performance across Australia confirms that more people in all States are having to wait longer than 24 hours to see a family doctor, Minister for Health David Davis said.

Minister for Health David Davis today paid tribute to the thousands of Victorian women aged over 50 who have set an example for others by having regular free mammograms through BreastScreen Victoria.

Speaking at a morning tea celebrating 20 years of breast screening in Victoria, Mr Davis said the women aged over 50 who had mammograms were role models for younger generations.

Minister for Health David Davis, together with Local Member for Narracan Gary Blackwood today officially opened West Gippsland Health Care Group’s revamped emergency department (ED) at Warragul Hospital.

Minister for Health David Davis today launched the Victorian Palliative Care Volunteering Strategy, which was developed following detailed research and broad consultation with volunteers and the sector.

The Commonwealth Budget papers confirm that the Federal Government is stripping $368 million in promised health funding from Victorian health services over the next three years, Minister for Health David Davis said today.

“I was bitterly disappointed to scour through the Commonwealth Budget documents last night and find ‘no ink’ in the spot where Victoria’s health funding should have been,” Mr Davis said.

The lost funding to Victorian health services through these Commonwealth cuts will be as follows:

“This missing money is sorely needed by Victoria’s hospitals to meet community demand for elective surgery and emergency department treatment,” Mr Davis said.

“Despite the record state investment Victorian hospitals will still have less funding from the Commonwealth than they were promised last year.

“The promised funding has been stripped away through a dodgy population fiddle and should have been reinstated in this Commonwealth Budget.

“The Senate inquiry found that “the Commonwealth pursued politically-motivated funding cuts to improve its financial position at the expense of public hospital users,” Mr Davis said.

Mr Davis said over the past two months Canberra had begrudgingly returned $107 million it had taken from Victorian hospitals and patients, but the Federal Budget papers show the balance of the money is not forthcoming.

“The Federal Government restored the previous $107 million as a result of sustained pressure from Victorian hospitals and communities,” Mr Davis said.

“I can assure Prime Minister Gillard and her Health Minister Tanya Plibersek that they will again have a fight on their hands.

“The Coalition Government will stand up for Victoria, and we will not be silenced until the Victorian community receives the health funding it was promised, and is entitled to,” Mr Davis said.

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The Federal Government continues to bend the truth when comparing its own health funding with Victoria’s commitments, Minister for Health David Davis said today.

For the first time, Victoria has a clear stocktake on Labor’s performance in outpatients, which showed a chaotic system where no one knew what was going on, with a disparate and detached collection system, Minister for Health David Davis said today.

The impact of Federal health funding cuts continues to hurt Victorian hospitals and patients, Minister for Health David Davis said today.

The Victorian Coalition Government will spend $21.9 million over four years to ramp up Victoria’s response to heart attacks and strokes, Minister for Health David Davis announced today.

The Victorian Coalition Government will provide $9.7 million for the long-awaited replacement of the Western Region Health Centre’s public dental services clinic, Health Minister David Davis announced today.

A new three-story wing will be constructed at the Northern Hospital in Epping with the major expansion to meet the needs of the growing population in the Northern suburbs, Premier Denis Napthine announced today.

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare Australian hospital statistics 2011–12 report confirms that Victoria continues to treat more patients in record numbers, Minister for Health David Davis said today.

The business community has backed Victorian Health Minister David Davis in calling for employers to vaccinate their staff against this year's strain of influenza.

The Victorian Government has welcomed the Commonwealth’s contribution to improving Aboriginal health through a new National Partnership Agreement, but has challenged it to match Victoria’s increased investment and commit to a four year agreement.

Cancer Council Victoria will receive $1.7 million as part of a $60 million Victorian Coalition Government boost over the next four years to cancer research in Victoria.

Minister for Health David Davis today announced the start of the new Victorian Cancer Agency (VCA) Consultative Council led by Professor Robert Thomas OAM.