Chief executive of Southern Health Linda Sorrell, Parliamentary Secretary of Health Daniel Andrews and Narre Warren South MP Dale Wilson at last Friday’s funding announcement at the Greater Dandenong Community Health Service.FOUR hundred of Greater Dandenong’s chronically ill residents are to be targeted in a new bid to keep them healthy at home and reduce their hospital trips, according to Parliamentary Secretary of Health Daniel Andrews.
Last Friday, Mr Andrews announced $400,000 in funding for the Greater Dandenong Community Health Service to improve existing health services.
A further $50,000 has been given to South East Primary Care Partnership to help link doctors and other health agencies to assist the residents to stay healthy.
Mr Andrews said people with chronic illnesses and complex needs could become regular hospital visitors and admissions when their condition was not expertly managed.
He said four chronic conditions asthma, diabetes, chronic heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease cost Victorian public hospitals $200million a year to treat 62,000 sufferers.
Greater Dandenong residents at risk will gain access to a minimum of 2555 more hours service a year, Mr Andrews said.
“Community Health Service staff will work closely with residents at risk of deteriorating if their illness is not well managed.
“This will enable them to initiate treatment or management changes so that conditions do not worsen.
“People with chronic conditions will also be encouraged and empowered to selfmanage their illnesses and develop a healthy lifestyle,” Mr Andrews said.
