The Andrews Labor Government is investing in 11 innovative
projects that will give patients across Victoria better access to higher
quality health care.
Minister for Health Jill Hennessy today announced projects
to share in funding from the third round of the Labor Government’s Better Care
Victoria Innovation Fund.
Better Care Victoria, led by an independent board chaired by
former AMA President Dr. Douglas Travis, drives innovation across the health
system to improve patient care. The fund is supporting projects that improve
the efficiency and productivity of our health system, improve patient outcomes
and reduce waiting times.
Key projects to receive funding include a new ‘safe haven’
café for people with a mental illness at St Vincent’s Hospital, and a
shortlisting program to boost timely access to palliative care in Melbourne’s
south east.
Other projects will establish a ‘one-stop-shop’ chronic
disease early detection and management program in Melbourne’s west, and a new
screening program at the Royal Women’s Hospital to enable jaundiced newborns to
stay at home.
Alfred Health will also set up a new clinic to safely
diagnose patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders, while the Royal
Children’s Hospital will integrate specialist paediatricians within GP
practices.
Minister for Health Jill Hennessy said, “We are making sure
more Victorians – no matter where they live – can get the first class care they
expect and deserve, when they need it.”
“With ever increasing demand on our health system, we know
we need to do things differently. These pioneering projects will drive
continuous improvements to help outcomes and change lives.”
“Through the Better Care Victoria Fund we’re drawing on our
best and brightest clinical minds to find new, more effective ways to treat
more patients, sooner.”
The Labor Government’s Victorian Budget 2017/18 delivers
AU$1.67 billion to support hospitals to meet demand, and provide the high
quality care that Victorian patients deserve.
This included a AU$10 million boost to the Better Care Victoria
Innovation Fund, taking total investment to AU$20 million. So far, the
innovation fund has funded 33 projects across the state.
The government is also investing AU$215 million to overhaul
quality and safety in the health system and drive down avoidable harm.
For more information on the list of funded projects, visit here.