September 2009

$6 billion for Victorian hospitals

The State Government has provided a financial boost to Victorian hospitals which will receive a combined $6 billion this financial year.

Announcing the annual budgets for all the hospitals, Health Minister Daniel Andrews said Victorian hospitals had been given a $338.7 million boost over the previous year’s allocation.

‘Record funding enables Victorian hospitals to treat record numbers of patients whether it’s emergency procedures, elective surgery or other vital health services.’

Mr Andrews said Victoria’s hospitals would this year get $6 billion combined—up by $338.7 million on the previous year, an overall increase of six per cent.

‘The extra funding will enable hospitals to treat 9,000 more elective surgery patients this year and fund an additional 30,000 emergency department visits.

‘Overall, with the 276 extra beds announced at the end of last year, our hospitals will treat an extra 63,000 patients this financial year.’

Mr Andrews said this year’s $338.7 million boost built on the Government’s decade of investment in health services to support Victorian families with hospital recurrent acute expenditure increased by 130 per cent since 1999.

He said this year’s Budget included $3 million for more short-stay units, day treatment centres and medi-hotels to improve the flow of patients.

‘In addition, the Government has funded four additional beds in intensive care units and two new neonatal intensive care cots.’

Mr Andrews said extra funding was being directed to hospitals serving the needs of growing populations and would help continue the Government’s expansion and modernisation of Victoria’s hospitals.