ALPINE Health will receive $13.7 million funding this financial year from the State Government, an increase of $396,000 on last years amount. The funding, which was announced by Jaclyn Symes (MLC, Northern Victoria), is part of the State Governments total hospital funding of $9.4 billion, which is $451.8 million (5 per cent) more than was provided in 2014-15. Ms Symes said the additional funding across the state will support health services to meet the increasing demands of a growing and ageing population, expand and improve services and care, reduce waiting times and enable an additional 60,000 patients to be admitted to Victorian hospitals and an extra 40,000 patients to be treated in emergency departments. We are providing extra funding to country and regional hospitals, we are building and expanding health services and improving care in our communities, Ms Symes said. Tim McCurdy (MLA, Ovens Valley) said he was thrilled the State Government was continuing to support regional health services. Ive met with the health minister Jill Hennessey several times and Im delighted shes continuing to support our hospitals and our communities, he said. Other health services in the North East also fared well in the funding announcement with Northeast Health Wangaratta receiving $82.7 million, an increase of $3.8 million, Beechworth Health Service (BHS) receiving $5.7 million, an increase of $169,000, and Benalla Health receiving $20.8 million, an increase of $516,000 on last financial year.