Yarrawonga Chronicle, Yarrawonga VIC (General News) by Racheal Willett Yarrawonga Health will receive an additional $423,000 in Victorian Government funding this financial year thanks to a 4.1 percent increase within a total $18.12 billion health spend. The increase will set the funding level for the Yarrawonga health service at $10.62 million. In comparison, Benalla and District Memorial Hospital will receive $21.311 million, Cobram District Health receives $7.739 million and Northeast Health Wangaratta receives $98.336 million. Yarrawonga Health is always enormously grateful for any and all funding it receives from the Victorian Government, which allows us to deliver the much needed services to our community so that our patients can continue to access the care they need close to home, said Yarrawonga Health CEO Elaine Mallows. We are incredibly fortunate to work with our highly skilled teams and local GPs to provide our local community with a high quality standard of health care right here in Yarrawonga and surrounds and we are privileged to serve such an outstanding rural community. The Victorian Government will spend a record $18.12 billion over the next year so more patients can get the highest quality care and treatment they need and sooner, according to Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes. The health system spend is split among hospitals, ambulance services, mental health and drug services, aged care, community health and public health services. Victorian hospitals will receive $10.6 billion, which is $665.84 million, or 6.7 percent more, than was provided in the previous financial year. According to Ms Symes, the Labor Government is providing $1.76 billion more than cash-starved hospitals received under the former Liberal National Government in their last budget in 2014/15. The funding will support hospitals to meet demand so patients can access the care they need and deserve, more quickly and closer to home. It will enable hospitals to admit 1.9 million patients, treat 1.8 million patients in emergency and carry out more than 200,000 elective surgeries to reduce waiting lists even further. We know our dedicated doctors, nurses and staff do a remarkable job and this record funding boost gives them the support they need to keep saving lives and keep people healthy, Ms Symes said. This record boost means better hospitals and efficient care that is first class and accessible, no matter where you live in northern Victoria. The former Liberal National Government underfunded our health system, but the Andrews Labor Government is providing the funding our country hospitals need to treat patients sooner. We are opening more beds, more theatres and reducing waits for surgery and emergency care which is all about putting Northern Victoria patients first.