$3 million in hospital alternatives funding

The Hodgman Liberal Government is continuing to invest in frontline health services which put patients back at the forefront of decision making.

In the State Budget the Hodgman Liberal Government provided $3 million over four years to help keep people with chronic illness out of hospital by providing them with quality care in the home or community, including funding to restore the Hospital in the Home program.

Restoring the Hospital in the Home program was an election commitment by the Liberals and we are pleased to be delivering on it.

There was widespread community outrage when the former Labor-Green government cut Launceston’s Hospital in the Home Program in 2012. This was one of the foremost examples of the savage budget cuts Labor and the Greens made to health.

In contrast, the Liberal Government is investing in essential services through an additional $100 million directly into frontline health, as well as this $3 million funding commitment for hospital alternatives, $24 million for patient transport, $14.5 million for the North West Cancer Centre, and $2.4 million for youth mental health.

Building quality alternatives to hospital care will be a key part of the rebuilt health system. It will provide better care coordination for people with complex chronic conditions, with a focus on reducing avoidable hospitalisations while improving health outcomes.

Hospital in the Home, as well as the other hospital alternative Initiatives funded in the Budget will be implemented as part of the One State, One Health System, Better Outcomes reforms. They will be an important part of an enhanced primary and community care system, which will be a key focus of the new Tasmanian Health Service.
Michael Ferguson, Minister for Health