Victoria’s first comprehensive cardiac plan

• Minister for Health launches comprehensive plan to prevent heart disease
• Victorian Coalition Government commits $21.9 million over four years
• Victorian Coalition Government investing in health services for Victorian families

The Victorian Coalition Government today released the state’s first comprehensive plan to prevent heart disease and boost access to vital cardiac care services.

Visiting one of Victoria’s premier cardiac facilities at Monash Health today, Minister for Health David Davis launched the Heart health: improved services and better outcomes for Victorians plan detailing the Government’s actions to fight heart disease.

“Heart disease remains a major killer here in Victoria claiming almost 7,300 lives every year,” Mr Davis said.

“In Victoria we are fortunate to have access to some of the best cardiac services in the country, provided by people who are the best in their field, such as Monash Heart.

“But more can be done – and that is why the Victorian Coalition Government has committed $21.9 million over four years to improve outcomes for Victorian’s with heart disease and stroke.

“As part of this commitment, we have developed a comprehensive five-year plan to prevent heart disease and further develop and improve cardiac services across our health system.”

Mr Davis said Heart health looks at heart disease across the full continuum, from prevention and early intervention through to rehabilitation and long term care of those with heart failure.

“Our plan builds on current efforts to strengthen cardiac services and outlines ways to improve our system to deliver more effective and efficient care into the future,” Mr Davis said.

“It aims to promote healthy living and early detection of heart disease, increase awareness of warning signs, support quicker access to time critical cardiac care, improve services for people with heart disease and strengthen system coordination and workforce training.

“It also includes measures to ensure that people in rural and regional Victoria have access to the best possible treatment.”

As part of the plan, over $3 million has been allocated this financial year to cardiac related projects including:

• $1.5 million to fund a number of Heart Failure projects;
• $750,000 for Ambulance Victoria to equip ambulances in rural Victoria with blood clot- dissolving drugs to begin in one region this year and other country regions next year;
• $500,000 for cardiac rehabilitation projects;
• $250,000 to expand the Victorian cardiac outcomes register; and,
• $300,000 to improve referral to cardiac surgery, particularly for people in outer metropolitan and rural areas.

Mr Davis said the Victorian Coalition Government is also delivering on a range of other initiatives to strengthen our cardiac care services, build new state-of-the-art facilities and deliver additional ambulance services.

“We have committed $22.2 million over four years to the Life! Helping you prevent diabetes, disease and stroke program to support people at high-risk of these conditions,” Mr Davis said.

“New or expanded cardiac services are among $4.5 billion of health capital works projects underway across Victoria, including at Bendigo Hospital, Sunshine Hospital and Box Hill Hospital. Recent service developments have already occurred at Ballarat Base Hospital and Frankston Hospital.

“We have established 10 new Mobile Intensive Care Ambulance Single Responder Units in Warrnambool, Horsham, Mildura, Shepparton, Wangaratta, Wodonga, Sale, Bairnsdale, Wonthaggi and Swan Hill.”

Mr Davis also acknowledged the ongoing work of the Heart Foundation in reducing premature death and suffering from heart disease. This includes their commitment to raising awareness of the early warning signs of heart disease.

“I would also like to thank the Victorian Cardiac Clinical Network for the important clinical leadership role they take here in Victoria and the action they are already undertaking to adopt the strategies outlined in the Heart health plan,” Mr Davis said.

“The strategies outlined in the plan will ensure our services provide all Victorians with streamlined, consistent and high quality care.”