Victorian Auditor-General's Office

1 Background

1.1 Introduction

Public hospitals provide a range of services across metropolitan, regional and rural areas. Metropolitan and regional public hospitals largely provide acute health services, as well as a mix of mental health, subacute, community health services and aged care programs. Rural public hospitals generally offer a higher proportion of aged care and community health services.

This report includes the results of the financial audits of 87 Victorian public hospitals and their 26 associated entities, as set out in Figure 1A.

Audit summary

This report presents the results of our financial audits of 113 entities within the public hospital sector, comprising 87 public hospitals and 26 associated entities. It provides a detailed analysis of public hospital financial reporting, financial results, financial sustainability and internal controls. It informs Parliament about significant issues arising from the audits and complements the assurance provided through individual audit opinions included in the entities’ annual reports.

Appendix A. Audit Act 1994 section 16—submissions and comments

In accordance with section 16(3) of the Audit Act 1994 a copy of this report was provided to the Department of Health, Austin Health, Eastern Health, St Vincent’s, the Department of Treasury and Finance and the Environment Protection Authority with a request for submissions or comments.

The submission and comments provided are not subject to audit nor the evidentiary standards required to reach an audit conclusion. Responsibility for the accuracy, fairness and balance of those comments rests solely with the agency head.

Responses were received as follows:

2 Improving energy efficiency in the health sector

At a glance

Background

As demand for health services has increased, so too has energy consumption. Several programs have operated for over a decade which aim to improve energy efficiency. Greater consideration has also been given to the environment and energy use in health service capital works. There is an expectation that efficiencies in health service energy use will be achieved.

1 Background

1.1 Energy use in the health sector

Victorian public sector facilities account for around 1.5 per cent of Victoria’s total electricity and gas consumption. The sector's largest users are healthcare providers—health services and hospitals—which account for around 26 per cent of public sector energy consumption.

Figure 1A

Energy use distribution in the Victorian public sector

Audit summary

Victorian public sector facilities account for around 1.5 per cent of Victoria’s total electricity and gas consumption. The sector's largest users are healthcare providers—health services and hospitals—which account for around 26 per cent of its total energy consumption.

Most metropolitan hospitals and some regional hospitals are large facilities that have high levels of energy use. This is because of their continuous operating requirements, use of energy intensive medical equipment, infection and temperature control, and on‑site services such as kitchens and laundries.

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