Infrastructure Victoria (IV) is calling on the state government to invest a further $150 million to $300 million into community health infrastructure over the next five years, in light of a recent report released by the independent advisory body.
The IV report found that in 2023-24, about 546,000 people in Victoria could have avoided visiting a hospital emergency department if their health was managed by primary care or the community health sector.
IV said this could have saved Victoria’s public hospitals about $554 million in expenditure in emergency departments.
IV chief executive Dr Jonathan Spear said community health organisations provide a single entry-point into the broader healthcare and social support system for people who cannot otherwise access affordable healthcare.
“They’re there for vulnerable Victorians, keeping them well and out of hospital for longer,” Dr Spear said.
“This fractional increase in funding would support vulnerable Victorians to manage complex health needs and ease the load of some of the 500,000 emergency hospital visits that could be managed in the community instead,”
The inner west’s two health community health providers both supported IV’s call for more funding.
Chief executive of IPC Health which serves Hobsons Bay, Jayne Nelson, said purpose-built local health services were more important than ever.
“We’re seeing more families accessing community health services for the first time due to cost-of-living pressures. We need spaces that can flex with demand, facilitate multi-disciplinary care and reflect the professionalism of the services we provide,” Ms Nelson said.
Chief executive of Maribyrnong community health provider cohealth, Nicole Bartholomeusz, said only the state government could fix the problem.
“Like many non-profit community health organisations, cohealth doesn’t have the money to invest in upgrading our facilities,” Ms Bartholomeusz said.
“The majority of funding received is directed into health services for communities who face significant barriers to accessing health care. This makes the upkeep or replacement of buildings next too impossible.”
A state government spokesperson said the government would review IV’s recommendations and would continue to work with community health services to understand how best to support them and their vital work.
According to the spokesperson, the state government invested $188 million in community health last year.
