THE state government has given East Grampians Health Service more than $10 million in the past two years.
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At the health service’s annual general meeting last week, board chair Nancy Panter said that the state government had made several funding announcements totaling $10.9 million for multiple upgrades at the Ararat facility.
“The Victorian government has once again committed to the long term future of East Grampians Health Service by providing funding of $4.12 million for the redevelopment and extension of the Community Health Centre, which will open in the middle of 2019,” she said.
“The upgraded Community Health Centre will ensure streamlined services and create opportunities for more efficient service delivery as well as the expansion of our home-based community nursing service.
“We also welcome the recent announcement from Heath Minister Jill Hennessy, that we will receive $2.9 million to redevelop and expand our theatre complex. The funding will allow us to increase the size of the second theatre, create additional day procedure bay capacity and extend and upgrade our Central Sterile Services Department.”
The health service is also set to receive $3.9 million pledged by state government towards refurbishing the radiology and pathology departments following the Andrews government’s successful re-election.
The health service has also undergone significant staffing changes over the past 12 months.
Chief officer Nick Bush finished his role in April 2018 and Andrew Freeman took up the position.
“He’s an effective leader who is deeply committed to improving the health outcomes for rural communities,” Ms Panter said.
She also said in 2017, for the third successive year, East Grampians Health Service was a finalist in the Premier’s Medium Sized Health Service of the year.
“Even though we didn’t win the award in 2017 it’s further recognition of the ongoing commitment and work of our staff, visiting medical officers and volunteers,” she said.
Ms Panter also acknowledged the volunteers and auxiliary groups who made a significant contribution to the health service and asked “for no other reward other than that of helping.”
