Thursday, 4 August 2022
Questions without notice and ministers statements
Ministers statements: Better at Home program
Ministers statements: Better at Home program
Mr ANDREWS (Mulgrave—Premier) (14:06): I am very pleased to rise to update the house on our $12 billion pandemic repair plan across our health system, a massive investment in COVID catch-up dealing with the pressures and very significant challenges that this one-in-100-year event presents to our nurses, our ambos, our doctors, our cooks, cleaners and ward clerks—the whole team—who are doing an amazing job under quite extraordinary circumstances, unprecedented circumstances. One of the ways in which we are supporting them is to listen to them, to respect them, to value them and to give them the reform and innovation that they push and drive through that respectful partnership that we as a government have with those staff. Part of that is $698 million for the Better at Home program. This is all about making sure that patients can safely return home sooner than they otherwise would. No-one wants to be in hospital a moment longer than they need to be—at home with family and friends in a familiar environment, being supported—
Members interjecting.
Mr ANDREWS: You would be better at home too actually, I reckon. You would be a lot better at home too. Mock all you like, interject all you like; we are getting on with it. 56 000 patients have been able to be discharged to the comfort of their own home with support—multidisciplinary support, and I know all about this program at a very personal level. On behalf of everyone on this side of the house, who supports and respects our health workers instead of going to war with them and mocking them and depriving them of the resources they need—
Members interjecting.
Mr ANDREWS: They are all very loud now—not so loud when the cuts were being made. I thank every single person; I thank every single clinician, every support worker, despite the noise. You make the noise, and we will make the change. It is a great program supporting tens of thousands of Victorians.
Mr Cheeseman interjected.
The SPEAKER: The member for South Barwon is warned.