 | RECORD FUNDING A BOOST FOR ALEXANDRA HOSPITAL
Friday, 30 July 2010
Alexandra District Hospital’s funding has increased by 76.2 per cent since the Victorian Labor Government came into office, Health Minister Daniel Andrews announced today.
Visiting the hospital, Mr Andrews said the funding was part of the Government's record investment in health services for all Victorians – a 153 per cent increase in the acute health budget since 1999.
“The Brumby Labor Government is committed to delivering quality health services for all Victorians and that’s why we are announcing a significant increase in funding to Alexandra District Hospital,” Mr Andrews said.
“Alexandra District Hospital’s funding of $5 million is up by $166,000 on last year.
“This year’s funding is $2.1 million more than what Alexandra District Hospital received in 1999.
“Record funding means more patients in the Alexandra region receive care more quickly, whether it’s emergency procedures, elective surgery, or other vital health services.”
During the visit, Mr Andrews and Member for Seymour Ben Hardman inspected the multi-million dollar redevelopment work at the hospital.
“The $20 million redevelopment of Alexandra District Hospital is progressing well and is expected to be completed by mid next year,” Mr Hardman said.
“This state-of-the-art redevelopment will give local families access to a wider range of first-class medical and health services, close to home, with a new operating theatre and primary care area.
“It will offer medical care, emergency stabilisation, community health, administration, and community support facilities.
“A new Alexandra Ambulance Station will also be built and co-located on the site, ensuring a greater co-ordination of cases and a better work environment for local paramedics and volunteers.”
Mr Andrews said Victoria’s hospitals would receive a combined $6.4 billion in recurrent acute funding – up by $443 million on the previous year.
“The funding boost will enable hospitals across Victoria to treat 9000 elective surgery patients more quickly, 50,000 extra emergency patients and 32,000 more outpatient appointments,” he said.
“Our Government has now delivered more than a decade of sustained investment in our health system, with hospitals and health services expected to admit more than 1.5 million patients over the next year, compared with just 1 million in 1999-00.
“The Brumby Labor Government has also invested in the largest health capital works program in the State’s history, with $7.5 billion provided to rebuild Victoria’s health system.”
This year’s State Budget provides $2.3 billion to continue to build world-class health, hospital and aged care facilities.
Mr Andrews said the historic health agreement reached at the COAG in April, would deliver additional investment now and into the future.
“Through this agreement, Victoria secured over $900 million investment in health and hospitals from the Commonwealth over the next four years and locked in additional investment in the long term,” he said.
“We are significantly increasing hospital budgets, so that patients get the support and treatment they need, close to home.”
The bottom line operating budgets exclude capital funding and non-recurrent expenditure.
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