The Victorian Government will provide more than $4.7 million to 22 of the state’s busiest public hospitals to support weekend discharges and help reduce pressure on emergency departments.
The funding will be used to provide additional weekend support for doctors, nurses, allied health professionals and pharmacists, while hospitals will also receive support to improve discharge planning and clinical handovers.
The government said patients who are medically ready to leave hospital should not have to remain on a ward simply because it is the weekend. The changes are intended to help eligible patients continue their recovery at home while freeing hospital beds for people requiring acute care.
The initiative comes as Victorian emergency departments and paramedic services face high demand. The government said improving the movement of patients through hospitals could help reduce pressure on emergency departments and allow paramedics to return to the road sooner.
Practical changes will include better coordination between clinical teams, greater use of discharge lounges and additional staffing and resources at participating hospitals.
The weekend discharge initiative forms part of the Victorian Government’s Timely Emergency Care program, which has supported 28 public hospitals, including Ballarat Base Hospital, to improve patient flow and reduce delays. According to the government, the programme has helped free more than 66,000 bed days across participating hospitals.
The government has also introduced handover standards developed with clinicians, hospitals and Ambulance Victoria, which it says are helping hospitals improve patient flow and ease pressure on emergency departments.
Ballarat Base Hospital is among the facilities included in the programme. Juliana Addison, Member for Wendouree, said the funding would help the Ballarat emergency department respond to ongoing demand, while Michaela Settle, Member for Eureka, said it would provide additional practical support for emergency department staff.
Martha Haylett, Member for Ripon, said the investment would support access to healthcare for families across Ballarat and the surrounding region.
Health Minister Harriet Shing said the funding would help hospitals discharge patients who are ready to return home and free beds for those requiring hospital care.
The announcement forms part of the Victorian Labor Government’s broader claims about investment in the public health system, including the recruitment of 17,000 nurses and midwives, the construction of 12 new public hospitals and a 50 per cent increase in the health workforce.
The government has also used the announcement to criticise the federal Coalition and One Nation, warning that proposed spending cuts could affect public healthcare funding. Those claims are political statements from the Victorian Government and have not been independently assessed in the material provided.
The new funding is intended to support faster patient movement throughout the year, with weekend discharge capacity forming one part of a wider effort to ease pressure on Victoria’s emergency departments and ambulance services.
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