In an effort to bring forth a program that aims at providing health care services to people at their homes, the State Government has agreed to spend $20 million every year on it.

This Home Hospital service will use Silver Chain nursing staff to look after the patients who can easily be treated at home. The service can be referred by GPs or hospital staff.

"This will allow Silver Chain, working with doctors, working with their general practitioners, and care for patients at the edge of those who would normally need to be admitted. Always it will be doctors making that critical decision - exactly the same with the nursing home.

The doctor will need to see the patient first, make a diagnosis and work out where's the best place that a patient can be cared for", said Dr. Kim Hames, the Health Minister.