Coalition pledges to take more patients out of hospital to be treated in their own homes ahead of election

THOUSANDS more Victorian patients will be treated in the comfort of their own homes rather than hospital beds if the Coalition wins the state election. Here’s why.

AN EXTRA 6000 Victorian patients will be treated in their homes rather than hospital beds if the Coalition wins the state election.

The Opposition will on Friday announce a $175 million expansion of the home and community care program, which sees patients with chronic disease and other conditions treated in the comfort of their own homes.

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An extra 6000 Victorian patients will be treated in their homes rather than hospital beds if the Coalition wins the state election.

The plan will see the equivalent to 200 extra acute hospital beds added to the health system and offered as in-home care through a 24-hour medical and nursing service.

An expansion of Hospital in the Home services is aimed to divert an additional 6000 patients a year from emergency departments, wards, nursing homes and GPs clinics into out-of-hospital care, who would otherwise be placed in a hospital bed.

Opposition health spokeswoman Mary Wooldridge said the package will help thousands of Victorians with complex conditions to identify their needs and receive appropriate treatment sooner so that it does not progress to a state where they end up in hospital.

More than a million Victorians living with multiple chronic diseases such as cancer, arthritis, diabetes, heart or lung disease currently requiring regular hospital care who will be the focus of the expanded package.

“Many Victorians have to be admitted into a public hospital or have extended stays in hospital due to the limited availability of Hospital in the Home or equivalent care,” Ms Wooldridge said.

“Hospital in the Home helps patients, who can safely be treated outside hospitals, get back home to their loved ones but with regular visits and support from health care professionals.

“This funding will improve their health with increased access to GPs and community health services and reduced time spent in hospitals and emergency departments.”

The Andrews Government is currently trialling a chronic care program at 10 hospitals but Ms Wooldridge said the pilot was yet to receive further funding. Picture: iStock

The home and community care Coalition plan will also offer support services for up to 5000 people a year with multiple chronic diseases to help manage their diseases and prevent or delay hospital readmission, as well as;

— INCREASED support for young people to transition from the Royal Children’s Hospital to adult hospitals;

— GRANTS for community-based chronic disease peer support groups, including online groups;

— AND a statewide plan for chronic disease management to prevent people from being admitted to hospital.

Victoria’s Hospital in the Home scheme has been backed by both Coalition and Labor Governments over the past decade, allowing patients to access treatments such as dialysis, rehabilitation and palliative care in greater comfort, while also saving money and resources in the health system.

The Andrews Government is currently trialling a chronic care program at 10 hospitals but Ms Wooldridge said the pilot was yet to receive further funding.

She said Coalition plan would will increase the availability of existing home treatments as well as offering home care for others who are clinically recommended with conditions such as infection management and complex wound care.

“With increasing demand for hospital services and increasing complexity in patient needs, ensuing high quality, accessible and responsive health services well into the future requires a strong network of acute hospitals as well as community health and home-based services for people who can be appropriately treated locally,” Ms Wooldridge said.

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