25 Jul 2018 Myrtleford Times, Myrtleford VIC (General News) ALPINE Health will receive a massive funding boost of more than half a million dollars from the Victorian Government. Last week Jaclyn Symes (MLC, Northern Victoria) announced that Labor is investing $14.23 million at Alpine Health for 2018/19 $651,000 more than the previous 12 months. Ms Symes said Alpine Healths funding has increased by $1.76 million or 14.1 per cent since 2014/15, when the former Liberal Nationals Government was in power. Were delivering record funding to ensure that hospitals at Myrtleford, Bright and Mt Beauty can treat more patients faster and communities have access to much needed services closer to home, Ms Symes said. Alpine Health chief executive officer Lyndon Seys said the funding was very much welcome and would be well utilised. Alpine Health is pleased to have the support of the Victorian Government and is very appreciative of the increase in funding this year, he said. The additional funding will be directed into service provision for the local Alpine Shire communities and help us manage their increasing costs. We will continue our focus on the health care needs of the community and remain committed to meeting the needs of individuals through the delivery of local services for local people. The funding is part of the Labor Governments 2018/19 budget allocations for all Victorian hospitals, a record $11.5 billion investment. It means hospitals are set to share in 10 per cent more funding than they did last year. Our doctors, nurses, allied and other healthcare workers dedicate themselves each day to care for us when we need it, Ms Symes said. The record funding boost will ensure the hospitals can provide the best treatment and care to the 1.9 million patients expected to be admitted to hospital and the 1.8 million Victorians who will access emergency departments in the coming 12 months. In total, the Labor Government is investing $19.4 billion in Victorias health system, including ambulance services, mental health and drug and alcohol services, aged care, community health and other services.