Premier

Quality care for every Victorian patient

01 May 2018

More Victorians will get the care they need sooner with a massive funding boost to help our hardworking doctors, nurses and paramedics treat even more patients.

The Victorian Budget 2018/19 will provide $2.1 billion, supporting the 1.96 million patients expected to be admitted to our hospitals, and the 1.84 million patients to be seen in our emergency departments, this year.

More than 207,000 Victorians will get the surgery they need sooner, with a $217.6 million elective surgery blitz to cut down waiting times and lists. This is equivalent to nearly 14,370 hip replacements or more than 76,000 eye surgeries.

Budget funding will also help meet the growing demand on our health and ambulance services, giving patients the emergency care they need, when they need it.

Code 1 Ambulance response times are at their best in nine years thanks to the Andrews Labor Government’s support for our paramedics. This Budget provides an extra $58.5 million to ensure more paramedics are on the road, supported with the equipment they need to continue saving lives.

The Budget is also investing $2.1 million to support research into rare and hard to treat illnesses. This funding will enable Maddie Riewoldt’s Vision to establish a research centre into bone marrow failure syndrome.

The Budget is also delivering:

  • $25 million for Better Care Victoria’s Innovation Fund to grow innovation and expand the capacity of our hospitals
  • $6.7 million to deliver immunisation programs that tackle meningococcal and influenza
  • $6.5 million to support the implementation of Voluntary Assisted Dying in Victoria
  • $5.5 million to support the Loddon Campaspe and Central Highlands Regional Partnerships deliver key health prevention projects
  • $2.1 million for more rural and regional patients to access support through the Victorian Patient Transport Assistance Scheme
  • Funding to support 10 additional cuddle cots so parents can spend precious time with their stillborn babies or those lost soon after birth.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Jill Hennessy

“This investment means more Victorian patients will get the care and surgery they need, sooner.”

“We’re investing in our paramedics so that every Victorian family – no matter where they live – can have confidence that in an emergency, they will get the life-saving care they need, when they need it.”

“Our medical research funding will build on our state’s world-leading reputation – but most importantly, it’ll help save lives.”

Reviewed 19 August 2020

Was this page helpful?