Consumers can make valuable contributions to health services beyond participation in their own care. They can also help to inform and improve services, facility design and the health service’s broader community engagement.
Health services need to support consumers to participate in their health care to achieve better quality, safety and health outcomes. Consumers need to understand their health conditions, rights and responsibilities, and available care options.
All of us, at some time, interact with public health services, as patients, family members or carers. In 2011, Victorian public hospitals admitted 1.55 million patients, with a further 930 000 patients seen in emergency departments, but not admitted. In 2011–12, the Victorian Government spent just under $9 billion, 21 per cent, of its total expenditure on acute public hospitals. As consumers and funders of public health services, Victorians should be able to be involved in making sure this essential service meets their needs.
Consumers should be meaningfully involved in decision-making about their health care and treatment, and broader health policy, planning and service delivery. There is growing recognition and evidence that consumer participation:
Ordered to be printed
VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT PRINTER October 2012
PP No 180, Session 2010–12
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:
As significant energy users and greenhouse gas emitters, it is important that health services improve energy efficiency. Achieving these improvements requires a planned approach that is effectively implemented.
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.
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