Public health services routinely use computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) scanners to diagnose, manage and treat medical conditions. These scanners take high-quality images of internal organs and tissues. They are now critical to clinical decisions at key points in a patient's treatment, and can significantly influence patient outcomes.
This report presents the outcomes and observations from the financial audits of the nine portfolio departments and the 201 associated entities that are not addressed in our other sector based reports, including the five Victorian alpine resorts.
Victorians rely on the state's emergency services organisations (ESO) for assistance during emergencies and crisis incidents and expect a prompt and effective response.
In Victoria, all Triple Zero calls are forwarded to a single organisation, the Emergency Services Telecommunications Authority (ESTA). ESTA is responsible for receiving emergency calls and dispatching emergency response vehicles and personnel. This centralised approach to emergency response call-taking and dispatching is unique in Australia and rare worldwide.
Victoria has benefited economically, socially and culturally from successive waves of immigration. Each group of migrants has had its own challenges, with low English proficiency often being a key barrier to accessing services effectively. However, the diversity and composition of these immigrants has changed in recent years.
The Australian Aboriginal population faces considerable disadvantage when compared to the non-Aboriginal population. For example, there are significant gaps in early childhood development, lower participation in maternal and child health services and kindergarten, poorer health status and shorter life expectancy, higher disability rates and comparatively lower literacy and numeracy outcomes. Despite some recent improvements, these gaps are still prevalent in Victoria.
In accordance with section 16(3) of the Audit Act 1994, a copy of this report, or part of this report, was provided to the Department of Health and Human Services, Health Purchasing Victoria and six public health services.
The submissions 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:
The map below shows ownership of CT scanners—it does not show those private CT scanners that may serve public patients through outsourced arrangements with public health services.
The audit approach—after benchmarking, interviews with the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services and Health Purchasing Victoria, and desktop review—consisted primarily of assessing three distinct data sources, of different breadth and level of inquiry. Group One included all public hospitals and health services, Group Two included a representative sample of 15 metropolitan and regional health services, while Group Three focused on a selective sample of six health services.
The high capital and maintenance costs of computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) scanners mean they should be used to the fullest extent possible. Increasing scanner efficiency, and therefore utilisation, can significantly decrease the cost per scan and increase public patient access to imaging equipment.
Public health services can deliver computed tomography (CT) and medical resonance (MR) imaging services in a number of ways—including purchasing or leasing for in‑house use, outsourcing the service or a combination of options. All options need to be assessed so that CT and MR imaging services are delivered cost-effectively.