More Victorian patients with a disability will go home sooner rather than wait in hospital for their National Disability Insurance Scheme plan.
The Victorian government has expanded its $39 million Pathways to Home program, which transitions patients into home or home-like accommodation while they wait for permanent housing through the NDIS.
The program, which was piloted in Melbourne over the past year, cut down lengthy hospital stays and freed up 3000 beds, Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas said.
The expanded program will now be delivered in 20 hospitals across the state, including in Albury Wodonga, Bairnsdale and Bendigo.
"We know that the overstay of people with disability in our hospitals is unacceptable," Ms Thomas told reporters on Sunday.
"The average stay for someone in hospital with a disability is around 160 days.
"Concerningly, we've seen people spend more than 600 days in hospital.
"The impact on a person's health and wellbeing is really significant, so we want to make sure that we are supporting people to get back out into the community."
Federal NDIS Minister Bill Shorten earlier this month announced targets to get people with a disability out of hospital sooner.
Those patients should be contacted by the national agency within four days of being ready to leave, Mr Shorten said.
The target is expected to free up hospital beds and save taxpayers $3 million a night.
Australian Associated Press
