- Minister for Health
A world-class project backed by the Andrews Labor Government that's helping doctors and nurses treat patients with sepsis faster is saving lives.
On World Sepsis Day, Minister for Health Jenny Mikakos released new data from the Labor Government's $2 million expansion of the Think Sepsis. Act Fast initiative.
Sepsis is a life-threatening inflammatory reaction to infections, which kills more than eight million people each year worldwide and is a leading cause of death in Victorian hospitals.
Recognising and treating sepsis early saves lives, with every hour of delay increasing risks.
The Think Sepsis. Act Fast initiative, developed at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and Melbourne Health, helps doctors and nurses to better identify and manage sepsis quickly.
With a big cash injection from the Labor Government's Better Care Victoria Innovation Fund, it was expanded to a further 11 hospitals across Melbourne and regional Victoria.
In just four months the expanded initiative saved 52 lives. New data shows the initiative is expected to save more than 150 lives a year and avoid nearly 300 intensive care admissions.
With hospital stays reduced by more than 11,300 bed days - that means more patients recovering faster and getting back home sooner.
Since 2016, the Better Care Victoria Innovation Fund has delivered $11.2 million to 37 projects that draw on our best and brightest clinical minds to find new, more effective ways to treat more hospital patients, sooner.
Projects are driving innovation and efficiency and improving patient care and treatment by sharing and embedding new ideas across the health system.
The Labor Government has invested nearly $215 million to strengthen quality and safety in Victorian hospitals, including the establishment of Safer Care Victoria.
As noted by Minister for Health Jenny Mikakos
"We're giving doctors and nurses the skills they need to recognise the signs of sepsis earlier and respond faster because early detection saves lives."
"It's all part of backing our best and brightest clinical minds and driving down avoidable harm across our hospitals."
