By Matthew Sims
The State Government has retained a number of its election promises and prior investments across healthcare in the South East in the 2023-24 State Budget, including a new emergency department expansion at Casey Hospital and a redevelopment of Dandenong Hospital.
Released by Treasurer Tim Pallas on Tuesday 23 May, the budget outlined a total investment of $3.04 billion in new healthcare projects.
The Department of Health’s operating statement showed a decrease in operating income of $788 million between the 2022-23 revised budget and the 2023-24 budget, due to 2022-23 funding related to Covid-19 response initiatives lapsing, while operating expenses were expected to decrease by $887 million in 2023-24.
The budget papers outlined the State Government would allocate $78.5 million towards its $320 million Hospital Infrastructure Delivery Fund in 2023-24, which would support planning, development and land acquisition for new and upgraded hospitals across the state, including the development of a new intensive care unit and a new outpatient clinic at Dandenong Hospital providing better care for the Dandenong community.
The fund would also support the construction of a a bigger and better Monash Medical Centre in Clayton, delivering specialist acute inpatient, maternity and specialist health services for the south-eastern growth corridor.
The budget papers have confirmed the new emergency department expansion Casey Hospital would continue to be funded, with the estimated completion date pushed back to June 2027 at the latest.
The 2022-23 State Budget included a commitment for Casey Hospital to receive a share of $236 million alongside Werribee Mercy Hospital in funding to double the capacity of its emergency department, with a total of $13.55 million estimated to be spent on the projects during the 2023-24 financial year.
The budget also highlighted a $10 million investment towards the Mental Health Capital Renewal Fund during the 2023-24 financial year, with other mental health initiatives including a further $776 million for critical bed-based services, AOD services, infrastructure, earlier support in community mental health services, better mental health in the workplace and the rollout of the new Mental Health and Wellbeing Act and $77 million towards setting up 50 Mental Health and Wellbeing Locals by 2026 including one in Narre Warren
Other intiatives outlined in the budget included a $256 million investment to support a statewide health‑based response to public intoxication and $15 million towards the Safer Digital Healthcare Program for 2023-24, $32 million to get new trainee GPs into the workforce and $20 million for a 12-month pilot program expanding the role of community pharmacists.
In an Australian first, the State Government has pledged to train 40 extra highly-skilled Mobile Intensive Care Ambulance (MICA) paramedics, and we’ll also train and deploy 25 paramedic practitioners.
Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas said the budget would ensure all Victorians can get the care they need at the right time and place.
“We’re doing what matters – building hospitals and recruiting thousands of healthcare workers,“ she said.
Ambulance Services and Mental Health Minister Gabrielle Williams said the budget outlined a holistic approach to the state’s healthcare system.
“With more ambulances on the road, more resources to train our paramedics and more work to build the mental health system our state deserves, we’re supporting every part of our healthcare system,“ she said.
Opposition health spokesperson Georgie Crozier said the budget failed to outline a plan to fix the state’s “broken“ health system.
“Patient outcomes continue to get worse,“ she said.
“For the entire time Labor has been in power, Victoria’s health system has rarely met the Government’s own performance standards.
“This government deflects and blames others for the mess it has created.“
