THREE Ballarat health services will share in $489,000 state government funding to cut elective surgery waiting lists.
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Ballarat Health Services, St John of God Health Care Ballarat and the Ballarat Day Procedure Centre will all receive funds to provide extra operations early next year.
The money is the third stage of the government’s $101 million Competitive Elective Surgery Funding Initiative, with $15 million provided statewide this round to fund an extra 2200
operations.
BHS received $2.165 million in the first stage of funding, which was just for public hospitals, and BHS, St John of God and the Ballarat Day Procedure Centre shared $1.101 million in the second stage.
State health minister David Davis said the first two stages provided for an extra 16,960 operations.
“Victoria is doing its bit with the rollout of this initiative to maximise the number of people receiving their surgery,” Mr Davis said.
“Because it is over and above their normal surgery lists, the hospitals can provide this extra surgery at a competitive and efficient cost.
“This means more operations and more people having their elective surgery.”
The initiative was announced in the May 2012 state budget to counter the loss of $50 million in federal elective surgery funding.
“This funding is honouring that commitment and a further round is to follow.”
fiona.henderson@fairfaxmedia.com.au