Archived 14 November 2007 - some links may not work

The Review

The Department of Human Services has undertaken a review of the Victorian Respiratory Support Service (VRSS), located at the Austin Campus of Austin Health.

After almost a decade of funding and operation as Victoria's foremost specialist service for people with chronic ventilatory failure, the VRSS now provides a range of clinical, nursing and allied health services spanning acute and sub-acute care to almost 500 people who are ventilator dependent. Both the level and nature of demand have changed significantly since the commencement of the service, making it appropriate to take stock of current operations and capacity to meet emerging need as effectively as possible.

The purpose of the review is to develop recommendations to the Under Secretary, Health, DHS, on the future role and priorities of the VRSS. Please note that the focus of the review was on the acute and sub-acute health services provided by the VRSS. The scope of the review excluded evaluation of the relative merits of different treatment approaches or consideration of the much broader issue of disability support systems.

The review has been assisted and guided by an expert advisory committee, including clinical, nursing and allied health experts, consumer representatives and representatives from Austin Health and the Department of Human Services.

Consultation

The report has been circulated as an exposure draft to a number of key stakeholder groups for response to the proposed recommendations. Comment on these recommendations (section 7 of the report) is welcomed, and should be forwarded by 17 February 2006 to

Ms Joan Snyder
Continuing Care and Clinical Service Development
Metropolitan Health and Aged Care Services Division
Department of Human Services
GPO Box 4057
MELBOURNE 3001
(email: joan.snyder@dhs.vic.gov.au)

If you have any queries, please contact Ms Snyder. Tel: (03) 9096 2027.