Hannah Hammoud
The state government has expanded its investment in the Better at Home program to support thousands of Victorians to get the care they need, in the comfort of their own home.
Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas visited Northern Hospital to announce that the expanded initiative has helped free up 374,000 hospital beds in the past year, to make room for the sickest patients and given more Victorians the chance to get better at home with loved ones.
The state government has invested more than $810 million to establish and expand the initiative to provide for the flexibility of in-home and virtual care.
The program allows patients to be visited by experienced nurses, clinicians and allied health professionals at home, as part of a more convenient and tailored experience.
At home care allows patients to avoid the physical deterioration, sleep disruption and social isolation that can sometimes be associated with extended hospital stays.
More than 45 health services across the state are delivering in-home and virtual care programs through Better at Home, covering a wide range of specialities and treatments that meet the specific needs of their communities.
Northern Health’s Maternity in the Home and Medical Obstetrics at Home programs have contributed to a 50 per cent reduction in hospital readmissions with care in the home providing care for more than 1,450 women last year.
Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas said that the expanded program delivered across Melbourne and regional Victoria prioritises the comfort of the patient in their recovery journey.
“Giving Victorians the option of in-home treatment allows them to get better in the comfort of their own home while also freeing up beds back at those hospitals for those who really need them,” she said.
