Australia's Victorian Government has unveiled an additional A$1.5bn ($988.9m) funding increase aimed at improving the healthcare system in regional areas.
This investment is intended to ensure that patients can receive necessary care within their communities.
It will also help hospitals aid in maintaining the delivery of a higher number of elective surgeries.
The goal is to support an additional 10,000 surgeries, reaching 210,000 for the financial year, equalling figures from 2023-2024.
This investment is also part of a larger A$8.8bn commitment outlined in the state budget.
It also aligns with the government’s actions following the Expert Advisory Committee's Health Services Plan, accepting 26 out of 27 recommendations either in full or in principle.
These recommendations are expected to fortify and integrate the health system while prioritising patient and frontline care.
Despite this, the government has declined suggestions to forcibly merge Victoria's health services.
It aims to reduce non-clinical redundancies instead and encourage stronger partnerships between hospitals, aligning with the report's vision for a more cohesive and efficient health system, without disrupting local services.
A significant reform includes setting up a new agency, named 'Hospitals Victoria', within the Department of Health.
Led by Siva Sivarajah, who possesses substantial experience in hospital management and care improvement, Hospitals Victoria will focus on supporting hospitals in delivering frontline care and streamlining back-office functions, such as payroll and IT systems.
Digital improvements are also planned, with the government continuing to enhance virtual care and technology.
Hospitals Victoria will work towards a connected electronic medical record (EMR) system across all hospitals, replacing outdated and disparate patient record systems, which will facilitate seamless care and reduce patient stress.
In addition, the government plans to replace Health Service Partnerships with Local Health Service Networks.
These networks will bring together hospitals within a geographical area to foster collaboration, improve care delivery, and support staff across the regions.
They will also share functions such as payroll and IT, allowing hospitals to concentrate on patient care.
Victoria Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas said: “Victoria’s health system is one of the best in the world and these reforms will keep us on track to deliver even better patient care through a reformed health system that is better integrated and connected, at the same time protecting local services we know Victorians trust and rely on.”
