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THE HON NICOLA ROXON MP

Former Minister for Health and Ageing

Taking Pressure off Public Hospital Emergency Departments

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The Australian Government will invest $750 million in expanding the capacity of public hospital emergency departments to deliver faster treatment for patients.

PDF printable version of Taking Pressure off Public Hospital Emergency Departments (PDF 21 KB)

20 April 2010

The Rudd Government will invest $750 million in expanding the capacity of public hospital emergency departments to deliver faster treatment for patients.
This includes:

  • $250 million in infrastructure funding agreed at COAG today, which will be targeted at helping public hospitals redesign emergency departments to treat more patients more effectively; and
  • the $500 million announced previously for the introduction of a National Four Hour Target for emergency departments across the country.
In addition, the Commonwealth will also be making a $200 million flexible funding pool available for States and Territories to be directed at emergency departments, elective surgery, or subacute care.
These investments will help reduce the pressure on emergency departments by providing them greater capacity to see patients within the clinically appropriate time.
Projects funded under these initiatives could include:
  • upgrades, expansions and development of emergency departments in areas with limited access and high demand;
  • establishment of designated medical units, such as rapid assessment, short stay units or trauma units;
  • alternatives to relieve pressure on emergency departments, such as nurse practitioner or GP clinics located next to emergency departments;
  • creation of additional capacity elsewhere in the hospital to move patients out of Emergency Departments more quickly.
Funding will be distributed on the basis of identified need, through states and territories working closely with Local Hospital Networks.

The most recent figures show that currently:
  • Almost one in three patients admitted from an emergency department – about 600,000 people each year – wait longer than 8 hours before they are admitted to hospital.
  • Almost one in three patients in emergency departments wait longer than clinically recommended before they are seen.
Today’s investment brings the Commonwealth’s total investment in emergency department infrastructure to $1.5 billion – as it builds on the Government’s existing commitment of $750 million to improve emergency departments made in 2008, which is already upgrading 37 public hospital emergency departments around the country.

The Australian Government will continue discussions with the Western Australian Government over the coming weeks and months about joining the National Health and Hospitals Network.

For all media inquiries, please contact the Minister's Office on 02 6277 7220.

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