Media release
From the Minister for Health
Friday, November 11, 2005.
WONTHAGGI FUNDS BOOST PART OF NEW DEAL FOR COUNTRY HEALTH
Bass Coast Health will receive a $30,000 boost as part of a long-term focus on rural and regional health, the Health Minister, Bronwyn Pike announced today.
Ms Pike said the funding, part of a $4.8 million package of initiatives for country hospitals, would help enhance treatment for patients at the hospital.
She said the Bracks Government’s long-term vision for country hospitals was contained in the strategy Rural Directions for a better State of health, which she launched at Echuca today.
Ms Pike said Bass Coast Health would use its funding to develop a series of six-week programs which will help up to 48 patients suffering respiratory and pulmonary disease.
“The new funding builds on a pilot program the service ran previously which reduced admission rates at Wonthaggi Hospital due to increased respiratory functions and patient confidence,” Ms Pike said.
“A support group called the Wonthaggi Wheezers developed from the pilot program, and members continue their exercise regimes at monthly meetings.
“The Wonthaggi region has a high proportion of people with respiratory disease compared to the Victorian average due to coal mining activities last century, and this new program will help meet their health needs.”
Ms Pike said Bass Coast Health’s funding package is part of the Rural Patient Initiative to help enhance treatment for patients at country hospitals.
As well as elective surgery at 10 hospitals, other projects around country Victoria are helping to support rural maternity services, targeting people with chronic illnesses and helping keep them out of hospital, and streamlining admissions and treatment.
“Funding through the Rural Patient Initiative will enable more than 700 patients to have their elective surgery fast-tracked,” Ms Pike said.
“The Rural Patient Initiative will target elective surgery patients at 10 rural hospitals over the next year. The semi-urgent and non-urgent patients on waiting lists will benefit from the initiative.
“The extra funding will enable the hospitals to increase their elective surgery sessions and operate on more patients, while still maintaining their normal surgery schedules.
“It means long-standing waiting list patients will receive their surgery, and get on with their lives.”
Ms Pike said the funding for Bass Coast Health would help build on the initiatives of the Bracks Government over the past six years to help provide a long-term vision and stability for country health services.
The Rural Directions strategy maps out the shape and direction of Victoria’s rural health system well into the future, she said. It is a tailored plan for country Victoria which recognises that country residents and communities have a range of different health needs, many of which are specific to rural living.
“Victoria has 1.37 million people living in rural and regional areas – 27.6 per cent of the State’s population,” Ms Pike said.
“It is vital that we have a plan and services in place to ensure that they receive access to the same standard of healthcare as their fellow Victorians.”
Ms Pike said the Rural Directions plan involved hospitals and health services working together to prevent illness and encourage healthier lifestyles, and to provide a wider range of services – previously only available in Melbourne – in the major regional hospitals.
Smaller rural hospitals would be encouraged to develop stronger relationships with local doctors, and work closer with the regional hospitals to ensure a range of health services throughout their local regions.
“Rural Directions provides a blueprint to encourage more doctors and other health professionals to live and work in country Victoria, and the Government will continue to develop and improve a range of health services,” Ms Pike said.
“Over the last five years the Government has invested more than $550 million in new capital works, equipment and infrastructure upgrades across rural Victoria, and will continue to invest in rural health services.”
People wanting to find out more about the strategy or what is happening with health in their region should visit and click on the Rural Directions banner on the home page.
Media contact: Ben Hart on 9651 5799 or 0407 445 551.