Today we're talking about system reform.
And that to me is thrilling. More than 5 million appointments happen in Victoria in the setting of outpatients or specialist care.
It's the largest part of our public health system, although maybe something that we haven't had as much focus on in the past. It's an amazing opportunity for us to reform and improve how we deliver care in Victoria.
I've always described specialist clinics or outpatients as the great unreformed part of our system.
But to bring this together at a system level, I think is a great opportunity. The blueprint sets the direction to redesign specialist care so we can improve access, make better use of capacity, and ensure the system remains sustainable into the future. Only 20% of the specialist care appointments in 2024 - 25 were for new patients. This clearly highlights a problem when some health consumers can't even get a foot in the door, and signals the need for new approaches to be taken.
There's a lot to be optimistic about. there's a huge willingness and excitement. And we've heard it here in the room today, but actually we've heard it all throughout this process. And that's really what we need to harness. Through genuine partnership and shared decision making, the patient will be more committed to the chosen treatment, will be more motivated to show up, more likely to take agency over their own health and wellbeing.
This is a win win situation.
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