Will older Australians benefit from hospital changes?
Older Australians will be among the biggest beneficiaries of the Government’s health care reforms announced by the Prime Minister, particularly through the creation of Local Hospital Networks, according to Justine Elliot, the Minister for Ageing.
Blogging on the Australian Labor Party website she said, “Care will extend beyond the hospital doors. The Networks will work with local primary health and aged care providers, to ensure that locally responsive and tailored care is delivered so that older people receive the care they need when they need it.
“The reforms will build on the work already underway in aged care which has resulted in more services to more older Australians than ever before. Over the last two years more than 10,000 new aged care places have become operational and funding for aged care services has increased by more than $1.7 billion – a larger increase than the Howard Government managed in its entire last term.
“We are already helping relieve the pressures on our hospital system. Over time we will build on these existing investments in aged care and other important areas.”
More information is available at http://www.yourhealth.gov.au
