Record Increase In Health Funding Delivers The Care Victorians Need, Sooner

More patients will receive the care, treatment and surgeries they need sooner with the biggest ever increase in health funding, under the Andrews Labor Government’s Victorian Budget 2016/17.

Our hardworking doctors, nurses and paramedics will get the support they need to save lives and keep Victorians healthy with an extra $2.45 billion for health.

Hospitals will be able to admit an extra 79,000 patients, treat an extra 43,000 patients in emergency departments and reduce waiting times, as part of a $1.63 billion boost for hospitals, ambulances and health programs.

With Victoria’s health system still recovering from four years of cuts and neglect under the former Liberal Government, and the Federal Liberal Government continuing to rip much needed funding from our hospitals, this is a Budget that puts Victorian patients and hospitals first.

An $817 million boost in infrastructure upgrades for our hospitals and ambulance stations will give our paramedics, doctors and nurses the modern facilities and equipment they need to deliver Victorians better care, sooner.

The Labor Government is investing a further $144 million to fix the ambulance system after four years of crisis and neglect so Victorians can have confidence that in an emergency they will get the care they need, quickly.

Key projects funded in the Victorian Budget 2016/17 include:

• $200 million for a Regional Health Infrastructure Fund
• $168.5 million to redevelop Goulburn Valley Health in Shepparton
• $135 million for Victoria’s first Heart Hospital
• $70 million to provide new medical equipment, new IT hardware, and replace ageing engineering infrastructure in hospitals across the state
• $61.3 million for infrastructure works at Western Health’s Footscray and Sunshine sites
• $40.8 million for Austin Hospital critical infrastructure works
• $29.5 million to roll out a Real Time Prescription Monitoring system across Victoria
• $27.3 million to rebuild and upgrade ambulance stations and purchase additional vehicles
• $27.3 million to support the health and wellbeing of people in the Latrobe Valley
• $21.3 million in health funding to implement Victoria’s medicinal cannabis access scheme
• $19.8 million to support the forthcoming Victorian Government’s Health and Medical Research Strategy
• $17.3 million to establish an elective surgery centre in Broadmeadows
• $16.8 million to strengthen quality and safety across the health system
• $16.6 million for cancer research and support services
• $10.9 million to support health and well-being of newly arrived refugees and asylum seekers
• $10 million for Better Care Victoria to establish a state-wide hospital innovation fund
• $10 million for Maroondah Breast Cancer Centre
• $6.6 million to improve Victorian women’s reproductive health
• $5 million to progress an electronic medical records system for hospitals in Parkville
• $3 million for planning to support the future of the Parkville Biomedical Precinct

Quotes attributable to Minister for Health Jill Hennessy

“Patients, nurses, doctors and paramedics are front and centre in this year’s Budget, with the biggest ever boost for hospitals, ambulances and health.”

“We’re investing so more patients can be treated faster, ambulances can arrive sooner, and doctors, nurses and paramedics receive the support they need and deserve.”

“With the Federal Liberal Government continuing to rip funding away from our health system, patients can have confidence that we are putting them first.”