No. 97

$10.4 million boost to Aged care and rehabilitation services

Over the next four years, the ACT Government will provide $10.4 million to further enhance the mix of services provided by the Aged Care and Rehabilitation Service.  

ACT Minister for Health, Katy Gallagher, said this initiative would increase the capacity of the Aged Care and Rehabilitation Service (ACRS) to meet the needs of older Canberrans. 

“This extra funding will directly benefit all of those patients requiring admission to the acute and sub-acute rehabilitation units, including elderly clients, as well as supporting increased and enhanced community-based services.” Ms Gallagher said.

Ms Gallagher said the Aged Care and Rehabilitation Service provided the people of the ACT with the full range of services from complex hospital care through to community-based services.  

“The ACT Government realises that with the ACT aged population growing more rapidly than their national counterparts, the needs of the Canberra community are changing, especially around care provided for older people,” she said.

“This $10.4 million injection of funds into the Aged Care and Rehabilitation Service will ensure that it can maintain its flexibility in the provision of appropriate services for the ACT community.”

Ms Gallagher said this flexibility would allow for the appropriately timed transfer of patients from acute beds to sub-acute beds.

This, in turn, would directly relieve the pressure on these acute beds and subsequently access block.

“The change from acute illness management to care focused on rehabilitation also aids in the restoration of function and leads to an overall reduction in lengths of stay,” she said.