THE Federal Government’s announcement to reverse funding cuts that impacted health services has been welcomed by Djerriwarrh Health Services chief executive Bruce Marshall.
“Any funding that we receive that increases our capacity to treat patients is always welcomed,” Mr. Marshall said.
“With record numbers moving into the local community we can well do without any funding cuts, so the securing of this $390,000 will assist greatly.”
The long-awaited funding comes only months after Djerriwarrh Health Services was told it had to cut $400,000 from its 2012-13 budget after the Commonwealth cut $107 million from Victoria’s health budget.
In 2012-13, the Federal Government will provide $3.6 billion in total health funding for Victoria, with that figure rising to $4.5 billion in 2015-16.
Victorian Health Minister David Davis welcomed the return of the 2012-13 funding as a “first step”, but said he would push for ongoing cuts to be returned over the next three years.
“The Federal Government now needs to follow up and restore the full amount of $475 million,” he said.
Western Health Chief Executive Officer Alex Cockram described the reversing of the cuts as a “considerable relief”.
However, Ms Cockram said they were still waiting on confirmation regarding how funds will flow into individual health services from the Federal Government.
“These are very complex matters in a major health service and implementing these measures has been a complicated process,” she said.
Ms Cockram expected to get clarification as soon as this week.
“We will also need to work through what this will mean for patients who are awaiting elective surgery.”
Over the last two months Western Health implemented a wide range of measures in response to the flow-on effect of the funding reductions, including a mid-financial year budget cut of $6.46 million.
“I am pleased that Western Health maintained its commitment to no job losses as a result of the Budget cut measures,” Ms Cockram said.
