One hundred thousand chronically-ill Victorians have saved themselves a record 600,000 days in hospital thanks to a five-year Government program.

Health Minister Bronwyn Pike said HARP (Hospital Admission Risk Program) had given a new lease on life to those suffering chronic heart or respiratory diseases and also older people with complex health needs.

Ms Pike said compared with patients not in the program, HARP patients experienced 35 per cent fewer emergency department attendances, 52 per cent fewer emergency admissions and 41 per cent fewer days in hospital.

'It is now accepted that managing your illness and receiving support at home is far preferable to an unnecessary and dislocating stay in hospital away from family and community supports.

'This is a huge result for a major Government program that has been saving lives and saving days in hospital for the chronically-ill since 2001.

'HARP has demonstrated that empowering people to manage their chronic disease can prevent emergency health crises by providing people with alternatives to hospital treatment and the skills to deal with their own emergency events.'

Because of HARP's outstanding impact on patients and the health system, the Government has expanded HARP programs into rural and regional Victoria.

This year, it has reinvested $55 million into this important initiative at 22 services across the State.

Ms Pike said the program was not only improving Victorians' quality of life but also freeing up capacity for people who really needed a hospital bed.

'HARP has produced winners all around.

'People benefit because they're avoiding health crises and the system works better because more health resources are directed toward people whose hospital stays are unavoidable,' Ms Pike said.

•           The HARP report is available on the web at www.health.vic.gov.au.