Anam Cara House suggests it receives $2m of Barwon Health’s funding to open four public beds

Palliative care facility Anam Cara House has suggested it receive $2m of Barwon Health’s funding to open beds for public patients in a bid to reduce ambulance ramping.

Anam Cara House chair Diana Taylor. Picture: Brad Fleet

A private palliative care facility wants $2m of Barwon Health’s funding to open beds for public patients in a bid to reduce ambulance ramping.

Victoria’s health crisis has continued to worsen in recent weeks with 18 ambulances ramped outside Geelong hospital’s emergency department (ED) on August 9.

Geelong man David Ryall recently waited for 10 hours to receive treatment at the ED after he fell ill with pneumonia and glandular fever on an overseas holiday.

Some of the 11 ambulances ramped at Geelong hospital on August 7. Picture: Alison Wynd

Anam Cara House chair Diana Taylor said it has offered two “solutions” to Barwon Health to address the issue.

“We can accept referrals from Barwon Health for patients with a life-limiting illness and with private health insurance, or who are self-funded,” she said.

“The second is to redirect Barwon Health funding of only $2m per year to Anam Cara House.

“This decision will open four beds for public access 24/7 for a whole year, supported by specialist doctors and nurses.

“We have the space and capacity to do more and we want to support Barwon Health and our community.”

Barwon Health’s emergency director Dr Belinda Hibble said it referred patients with private health insurance to private hospitals where appropriate.

Barwon Health’s emergency director Dr Belinda Hibble. Picture: Mike Dugdale

“Barwon Health provides a comprehensive palliative care service for people with life-limiting illnesses, including community and home-based care, as well as palliative care inpatient service at the McKellar Centre,” she said.

Dr Hibble said transferring patients from ambulances to its ED ward was a priority.

“We’ve implemented several measures to reduce extended waiting times for ambulance patients including admitting ambulance patients directly to our short stay unit, commissioning the new pediatric area of the ED and new senior staff roles dedicated to triage and early assessment for patients on arrival,” she said.

Ms Taylor said our public health system provided a great level of care but was currently under pressure.

“Anam Cara can assist in alleviating some of that pressure,” she said.

“Geelong works best when we work together.”

The state government did not directly address Anam Cara House’s funding proposal when questioned.

“Ambulance Victoria and our hospitals work together to ensure patients are transferred as quickly as possible in order to get our paramedics back on the road,” a spokesman said.

“Despite record demand, the average emergency department waiting time remains steady at 15 minutes, and all urgent patients are being seen immediately upon arrival.”

A state parliamentary inquiry will probe Ambulance Victoria’s workplace culture and working conditions.

The content summaries were created with the assistance of AI technology, then edited and approved for publication by an editor.

Originally published as Anam Cara House suggests it receives $2m of Barwon Health’s funding to open four public beds