The Hon Alan Griffin MP
Minister for Veterans’ Affairs
Minister for Defence Personnel
VA024
Tuesday, 11 May 2010
NEW PROGRAM INCREASES COMMUNITY CARE, REDUCING HOSPITAL
STAYS
The government will deliver improved health care for veterans and war widows and reduce
unnecessary hospital stays through a new $152.7 million investment announced in the Budget.
The Preventable Admissions and Improved Community Care Program will increase community-
based support for veterans and war widows who have chronic conditions and complex care
needs and are at risk of hospitalisation.
The Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Alan Griffin, said that new payments would be available to
Local Medical Officers (LMOs) to better coordinate and oversee health care for veterans and
war widows targeted by this new initiative. The government expects up to 17,000 veterans will
benefit from the initiative.
“This initiative will provide real support to members of our Second World War generation in their
twilight years.
“In many cases, there is no need for someone to end up sick enough to go to hospital. There is
evidence that many of these stays would not be needed if there was better coordination of care
and support for them in the community.
“Being admitted to hospital can be very stressful, especially for older patients. This program
aims to reduce unnecessary hospital stays by focusing on better community-based care and
helping with the self-management of chronic conditions,” Mr Griffin said.
This announcement builds on the firm relationship that already exists between veterans and
their LMOs. LMOs will receive new payments for preparing and implementing care plans,
including coordinating care for veterans participating in the initiative.
A practice or community nurse will support the veteran including:
coordinating appointments with other health professionals involved in their care
providing an appointment reminder
undertaking home visits
assisting with medication management and treatments
assisting the patient to self-monitor his or her condition.
The new program will target those with one or more of up to five chronic conditions. These are
congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease and diabetes.
As part of the package, $28 million will be spent on an expansion of the Veterans’ Home Care
Program to introduce a new service to target older, more frail veterans most at risk of
unnecessary hospitalisation.
“This will increase home-based services for our frailest veterans to try and keep them healthier
so they can spend more quality time at home and less time in hospital,” Mr Griffin said.
Media inquiries: Sasha Nimmo 0437 863 109
DVA General inquiries: 133 254
The VVCS – Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service can be contacted 24 hours a day, seven days a
week on 1800 011 046.
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