The plan covers 12 Victorian emergency departments
Victoria doctors have welcomed the Carroll Labor Government’s $1.5 billion commitment to emergency care, but say the state’s hospital crisis also needs broader reform and clearer detail on doctor provision.
The plan covers 12 Victorian emergency departments. It includes 250 beds and 1,500 health workers. The stated aim is to reduce emergency department waiting times by up to 20%.
AMA Victoria President Dr Simon Judkins said the investment was urgently needed because patients and hospital staff were already under unacceptable pressure.
“We welcome this significant commitment to increasing emergency department capacity and reducing the unacceptable delays many Victorian patients are currently experiencing,” Dr Judkins said.
Emergency departments do not operate in isolation. Ambulance transfers, access to hospital beds, intensive care capacity, and discharge into rehabilitation, aged care or community support all affect patient flow.
Hospital wards already contain patients who cannot be discharged because the next stage of care is not available, Dr Judkins said.
AMA Victoria wants all parties contesting the Victorian state election to set out comprehensive plans for long-term reform of Victoria’s health system.
“This announcement is an important investment in emergency care, but Victoria needs a health system strategy that follows the patient through their entire journey,” Dr Judkins said.
Enterprise bargaining and staffing pressures
ASMOF Victoria linked the announcement to recent stopgap agreements after stalled enterprise bargaining. Remuneration for senior medical staff, including emergency specialists, continues to fall in real terms.
Victoria also faces systemic medical understaffing, which increases pressure on existing doctors and limits the health system’s capacity to provide care.
Long hours, serious fatigue and ongoing workforce shortages are limiting how far hospitals can expand capacity, according to ASMOF Victoria.
“New beds and expanded facilities are welcome, but they, in of themselves, cannot provide healthcare without the doctors and medical staff needed to operate them,” ASMOF Victoria President Dr Roderick McRae said.
ASMOF Victoria is calling for competitive pay and conditions to attract and retain doctors in Victoria. The group says a new enterprise bargaining agreement is needed to support future growth.
Dr Judkins said the next Victorian Government should also invest in hospital capacity, workforce and community services as demand grows and the population ages.
