Sick and injured Victorians can be handled and assessed by new extremely educated specialist paramedic practitioners to take stress off the state’s over-burdened hospital system if the Andrews Authorities wins the November 26 election.

Within the newest well being salvo from state authorities, Premier Daniel Andrews introduced a $20 million plan to coach 25 specialist “paramedic practitioners” by 2026.

Andrews stated it was an Australian first and the scope of the brand new roles could be finalised after consultations with paramedics, docs, well being providers and unions. The system can be modelled on the UK, the place paramedic practitioners attend advanced maternity call-outs, and may dispense extra drugs and use extra superior medical tools than paramedics normally can.

Andrews stated Victoria would have no less than 25 paramedic practitioners educated and on the highway by 2026. He stated learning to grow to be a paramedic practitioner could be “completely free” via authorities supplied scholarships.

The announcement comes as the federal government faces rising stress over the well being system. As The Age reported this week, hovering inflation may slash Victoria’s well being funds by greater than 13 per cent in actual phrases this monetary 12 months, as docs warn of worse outcomes for sufferers at a time of continued record-breaking demand.

Emergency departments are nonetheless dealing with excessive demand and hospitals have warned this might symbolize a “new regular” for the system.

At a press convention in Wonthaggi, Andrews additionally stated a re-elected Labor authorities would spend as much as $290 million for a significant redevelopment of the Wonthaggi Hospital to ship additional beds, a brand new birthing advanced and a brand new outpatient clinic.

Andrews stated the inhabitants was rising on the Bass Coast, promising his authorities would proceed to fulfill the wants of native households.