Welcome to the Statewide Emergency Program

Timely and appropriate emergency department treatment is an important government service provided for all Victorians. Patient demand for emergency department care is increasing as a result of an ageing population, a rise in the number of people with chronic disabilities, declining public access to General Practitioners (GPs) and new technologies that enable treatment for previously untreatable diseases and conditions.

Initiatives to improve emergency department services, facilities and waiting times are a priority for the Victorian Government.  A range of general and hospital-specific initiatives designed to improve and extend emergency access are being implemented across Victoria. They will:

• Improve access, treatment and waiting times for all patients
• Improve emergency department physical facilities
• Improve treatment and access for targeted patient groups (including children, those with mental illness, the aged and those with complex needs)
• Promote best practice and streamline care and clinical practice within Emergency Departments
• Instigate and direct workforce reform within Emergency Departments
• Improve the ways in which care is delivered

This website outlines the emergency department access initiatives being pursued in metropolitan and rural hospitals in Victoria. For more information on the Public Hospital system, including the physical location of Victoria’s emergency departments, please consult the Your Hospitals website.

What's New

Guidelines for the Victorian Emergency Department Care Coordination Program (PDF file 266KB) - September 2009

Observation Medicine Self-Assessment Tool (PDF File 110KB) - July 2009

Observation Medicine Self-Assessment Worksheet (MS Word File 453KB) - July 2009

Improving the Patient Experience Program - Improving the environment for older people in Victorian emergency departments - audit 2009 (PDF file KB) - May 2009

Discussion paper Streaming care: Fast track services in hospital emergency departments 2008 (PDF file 656KB)