Wednesday, 19 February 2025

 Sonja TERPSTRA (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (17:05): I rise today to speak on the Eastern Health annual report for 2023–24, and it is a very nice segue after what we have just been talking about because I can talk about the Allan Labor government’s commitment to funding our fantastic public health system. This highlights the ongoing commitment of Eastern Health to delivering exceptional healthcare services and fostering a healthier community, which is an important issue in my North-Eastern Metropolitan Region. The report provides an opportunity to reflect on the past year’s achievements, to recognise progress and to look forward with a sense of optimism. At the core of Eastern Health’s strategic plan is the guiding principle of ‘Healthier together’, and the vision has driven collaboration not only within the organisation but with community partners, ensuring that every individual can lead their best and healthiest life.

The strategic goals outlined in the report focus on empowering staff, enhancing patient care and optimising resources, all while maintaining a safe and inclusive environment for Victoria’s diverse community. Having said that, I know also that our recent announcement that we have made in regard to strengthening nurse-to-patient ratios in our public hospital system will also make a huge difference not only to our hardworking nurses but also to improving patient outcomes in our hospital system. The biggest partner of Eastern Health is the Allan Labor government, as I said. We have invested approximately $1.324 billion into Eastern Health alone. The funding has allowed Eastern Health to build a sustainable workforce, provide a high standard of care to patients and invest in their future. The Allan Labor government will always value public health, whether it be access to abortion, medical termination, stroke care or the myriad of other services that are provided in our public health system.

A key achievement over the past year of Eastern Health has been their commitment to building and engaging a sustainable workforce. By fostering strong partnerships with universities and training providers, Eastern Health has positioned itself as a learning organisation that develops the healthcare workforce of the future. This investment ensures the delivery of high-quality care and support to patients across the region, and might I say it is a very big and extensive region. The region that Eastern Health serves is, I think, either the biggest or the second-biggest in the state of Victoria. In terms of patient care, significant progress has been made in strengthening partnerships with patients, consumers and the broader community. Shared decision-making and co-designed care models have been embraced, ensuring services are tailored to meet the specific needs of the diverse patient community. Innovative models of care and technology have also enabled health care to be delivered closer to home and in some cases in home through the hospital-in-the-home model. This improves accessibility for patients as well.

A strong emphasis has also been placed on safety and inclusivity. By prioritising employee wellbeing and engagement Eastern Health has cultivated workplace diversity values and equity. Efforts to enhance workplace safety have resulted in a notable reduction in incidents, ensuring staff can perform their duties in a secure and supportive environment. Again this is about supporting our hardworking nurses, doctors and midwives in the healthcare system.

The report also highlights key performance indicators, particularly in infection prevention and control. This is something that is critically important. Compliance with the Hand Hygiene Australia program exceeded target, reaching an impressive 87.2 per cent, while healthcare worker immunisation rates for influenza alone reached 97.5 per cent, which demonstrates a strong commitment to protecting both staff and patients by our hardworking healthcare workers.

In the area of mental health, Eastern Health recognises the need for continuous improvement. The clock is going to beat me on this, but I just want to mention in the minute that I have left that notably the report also talks about Turning Point’s vital role in delivering innovative research, education and treatment services. This service is somewhere that I have visited a number of times. During the financial year Turning Point secured over $5.5 million in grants for impactful research projects, reinforcing its national leadership in addiction research and services and evidence-based intervention. I am pleased to have been able to speak on this important information contained in Eastern Health’s annual report, and I commend the report to the house.