Australian Government to Invest $1.6B in 1300 Sub-Acute Care Beds
The Australian Government will invest $1.6 billion to deliver a guaranteed 1300 new subacute care beds by 2013-14.
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Previous MinistersPDF printable version of Australian Government to Invest $1.6B in 1300 Sub-Acute Care Beds (PDF 15 KB)
20 April 2010
These beds will provide more care for people in the right setting and reduce the pressure on public hospitals.
Under this initiative, the Commonwealth will invest $1.6 billion in recurrent and capital funding in a New Beds Guarantee National Partnership.
States and territories would guarantee the delivery of 1300 new sub-acute beds over the next four years.
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.
Sub-acute beds reduce the pressure on public hospitals by providing patients more appropriate care, improving their health outcomes and quality of life.
The Commonwealth’s investment will support more palliative, rehabilitative and geriatric beds, as well as more mental health sub acute beds.
These beds will be in a range of settings, including in hospitals or outside, such as in residential and community-based settings.
The Commonwealth and states and territories will commit to appropriate accountability mechanisms to ensure that increases in the number of beds are properly delivered.
The current lack of appropriate sub-acute care services, particularly in the community, often results in unnecessary hospitalisations and adds to pressure on public hospitals.
The National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission recommended an expansion of subacute services and infrastructure, including in palliative care services.
It also recommended that there should be an expansion in community-based sub-acute mental health services.
The Australian Government will continue discussions with the Western Australian Government over the coming weeks and months.
For all media inquiries, please contact the Minister's Office on 02 6277 7220.
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