More patients will receive the care, treatment and surgeries they need sooner with the Andrews Labor Government spending a record $16.47 billion across the entire health system this year.
Minister for Health, Jill Hennessy, today visited the Royal Children’s Hospital to announce the 2016/17 budget allocations for Victorian hospitals.
The budget allocations reveal how the biggest ever increase in health funding delivered in the Victorian Budget 2016/17 will be carved up among hospitals, ambulance services, mental health and drugs services, aged care, community health and public health services.
Victorian hospitals alone will share in $10 billion, which is $579.7 million – or 6.1 per cent – more than provided the previous financial year.
As part of the boost, the Royal Children’s Hospital will receive $19.3 million more than provided last year – a total of $407.6 million – so more young patients can receive the care and treatment they need, sooner.
This includes extra funding to give the hard working doctors and nurses at the Royal Children’s Hospital the support they need to cope with a recent record spike in demand in the emergency department.
It follows $1.4 million brought forward from the Budget to open a new fast-tracked ward in the Emergency Department so more patients can be seen and go home sooner.
The new unit will have 10 treatment spaces and once up and running, will see an extra 80 patients treated a day.
In May, there were around 8,000 presentations to the Royal Children’s Emergency Department, compared to 6,200 at the beginning of the year. In comparison, the Emergency Department at the Royal Melbourne Hospital – one of Melbourne’s biggest – had less than 6,000 presentations in the last month.
The Labor Government’s record investment will enable hospitals to admit an extra 79,000 patients and treat an extra 43,000 patients in emergency departments across the state.
We are also providing $817 million to build new hospitals and ambulance stations, and funding the latest advances in medical equipment so our dedicated doctors and nurses can deliver even better care.
A record $144 million boost for our ambulance system will support paramedics to respond to medical emergencies even quicker and do what they do best, which is saving lives.
The 2016/17 budget allocations for Victorian hospitals are available at
Quotes attributable to Minister for Health Jill Hennessy
“We’re putting patients first and delivering record funding for hospitals so more patients can be treated, sooner.”
“This extra funding will support hospitals to expand services, open more beds and carry out more surgeries to meet increasing demand for care across the state, treat patients faster and reduce waiting lists.”
“Our dedicated doctors and nurses do a remarkable job. This funding boost gives them the support they need to save lives and keep Victorians healthy.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020