Victorians will gain better access to nurses, clinicians and allied health professionals from their homes through new funding from the latest state budget.
The Victorian government announced the $698 million Better At Home package this week, in order to help 15,000 residents access home-based care each year.
The program allows Victorians to access experienced nurses, clinicians and allied health professionals at home, surrounded by their loved ones as part of a more convenient and tailored experience.
The package will extend the Hospital in the Home beds that were established throughout the pandemic, increasing capacity to 358 virtual beds and providing ongoing care at home for Victorians so they don’t need to go to hospital for treatment.
This investment is the equivalent of running a major hospital and will enable health services to perform more elective surgeries and reduce how long patients stay in hospital.
Victorian premier Daniel Andrews said ensuring more Victorians had access to care at home not only meant better outcomes and more comfortable health care, but it would also help to take the pressure off frontline nurses, paramedics and doctors.
“I know from my own experience just how helpful getting care at home can be. It makes treatment and recovery so much easier when you’re able to get personalised care brought directly to you.”