Vic hospitals set to benefit from Rudd Govt cash injection

Minister for Health and Ageing, Nicola Roxon, will inspect the construction site at Royal Melbourne Hospital which will benefit from a new $7.3 million facility to enhance peri operative services.

The Hospital has also recieved over $553,000 for new surgical equipment and more than $505,000 for surgical workforce initiatives.

Roxon is visiting the hospital to conduct the 13th consultation with clinicians, nurses, health staff and consumers, road-testing the National Health Reform Commission's recommendations. She will meet with local health professionals to hear their views on priorities to improve health services and hospitals around the country.

The funding is part of the second stage of the Rudd Government’s Elective Surgery Waiting List Reduction Plan, investing $600 million over four years to improve hospital services and reduce surgery waiting times.

These investments highlight the Government’s strategy of targeting key pressure points in our health system, such as elective surgery and emergency care. These investments will continue to flow while further consultations are conducted on ling term reform options.

A further $250,000 has been provided for new surgical equipment and $97,000 for surgical workforce initiatives at the Royal Children’s Hospital and $61,888 for new surgical equipment at the Royal Women’s Hospital. These improvements will lead to long-term capacity improvements in elective surgery services.

Australians are also invited to have their say about how they would like to improve the health system via the website below where they can find the three major reports presented to the Government: A Healthier Future for all Australians, Building a Primary Health Care System for the 21st Century, and the Preventative Health Taskforce Report.

At yourhealth.gov.au you can also vote in polls, share experiences of the health system, and see what others are saying.