Friday, 17 May 2019

PATIENTS PAY THE PRICE FOR SCOTT MORRISON’S BOTCHED NDIS

Victorians with a disability are stuck in hospital for more than three months after they are ready to be discharged
due to Scott Morrison’s botched rollout of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

New analysis has revealed the extent of the delays being confronted by hospital patients who are either waiting for
an approved NDIS plan, or who can’t access the services they need which would enable them to return home.

These unacceptable delays are creating unnecessary stress on disability patients and their families who have
already suffered enough. It also means hospital beds are being occupied unnecessarily, putting more strain on our
hardworking nurses and doctors.

Not only is the Morrison Government unwilling to fix the NDIS for Victorians with a disability, they refuse to properly
fund our public hospitals, putting nurses and doctors last.

The analysis of Victoria’s health service data reveals up to 80 patients in public hospitals were ready for discharge
at the time of the snapshot, but couldn’t be due to a lack of supports in place due to issues with the NDIS.

Disability patients who have been assessed as clinically ready to leave hospital are forced to stay an extra 107 days
on average due to a delay with the NDIS – a total of 8,522 bed days.

The data also reveals which hospitals and health services are hit hardest by Scott Morrison’s botched NDIS rollout,
including:

• Alfred Health – 1,770 total days spent in hospital by patients ready for discharge
• Monash Health – 1,690 total days spent in hospital by patients ready for discharge
• St Vincent’s Health – 802 total days spent in hospital by patients ready for discharge
• Bendigo Health – 179 total days spent in hospital by patients ready for discharge.

Time and time again, Victoria has called on Scott Morrison and the Federal Liberals to fix the gap between the NDIS
and mainstream services, but they’ve refused.

In Victoria there are 40,000 people with a disability who need to transfer to the NDIS by the end of June this year
because the Morrison Government has not only sat on its hands, but also squandered $1.6 billion to prop up their
budget bottom line.

That means 40,000 are waiting desperately for the support and services they deserve – creating unfair stress on
individuals, carers and families.

While the Labor Government is investing $2.5 billion in 2019/20 towards the NDIS, the Federal Liberals are going
to whatever lengths necessary to keep their contribution secret.

It’s just another reason why you can’t trust the Federal Liberals when it comes to the NDIS.

Media contact: Patrick Lane 0437 884 010 | healthmedia@minstaff.vic.gov.au

Quote attributable to Minister for Disability, Ageing and Carers Luke Donnellan

“This is more proof Scott Morrison has completely botched the NDIS – and once again it’s people with a disability
who are paying the price.”

Quote attributable to Minister for Health Jenny Mikakos

“Our hospitals are busy enough without having to accommodate patients who are ready to be discharged but have
nowhere to go, but Scott Morrison and the Federal Liberals are ignoring the issue and putting patients last.”

Media contact: Patrick Lane 0437 884 010 | healthmedia@minstaff.vic.gov.au