Media release
From the Parliamentary Secretary for Health
Friday 9 December 2005
NEW PROGRAM TO HELP BAIRNSDALE’S CHRONICALLY ILL
Some 200 chronically ill East Gippsland people will be helped each year under a new program to keep them healthy at home and minimize their need for a trip to hospital.
Parliamentary Secretary for Health, Daniel Andrews, today announced $250,000 for Bairnsdale Regional Health Service to establish a program to help people with chronic and complex conditions.
Mr Andrews said people in Bairnsdale and surrounding communities including Paynesville, Metung and Lakes Entrance will benefit.
“The funding will be used to employ health professionals to help identify people at risk of deteriorating if their illness is not well managed.
“People with chronic heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease as well as indigenous people with psychosocial conditions such as anxiety and depression will be helped by the program.
“These people would be regular hospital visitors if their condition is not expertly managed.
“Bairnsdale Regional Health Service staff will work with patients, GPs, family members, and other allied health professionals, to develop coordinated treatment plans to help people manage illnesses and to develop as healthy a lifestyle as possible,” he said.
A Koori Liaison Worker position, focusing on chronic and complex health conditions, will also be funded, to ensure the new program is able to respond appropriately to the needs of East Gippsland’s Aboriginal community.
“Chronic conditions such as asthma, diabetes, chronic heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease cost our public hospitals $200 million a year to treat 62,000 people with chronic disease.”
Mr Andrews said the Government has allocated more than $47 million to Hospital Admission Risk Program- Chronic Disease Management programs in 2005/06 to be implemented in 21 health services across Victoria.
Bairnsdale Regional Health Service is one of six health services to receive funding for the first time to establish a program.
Media contact: Luke Hatton on 9616 9072 or 0407 925 685 www.vic.gov.au