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Thursday, May 18, 1995
HOSPITAL A CREDIT TO WARRAGUL COMMUNITY - MARIE TEHAN
Developments and improvements to the West Gippsland Hospital are a credit to the Warragul community, the Health Minister, Mrs Marie Tehan said today.
Mrs Tehan officially opened the Blackwood Day Procedure Unit at the hospital, which she said was funded entirely from the local community and the hospital.
The new $200,000 unit will greatly reduce the need for Warragul patients to travel to Traralgon or Melbourne for some day procedures and treatments.
Mrs Tehan said the community had also joined together to pay for a new $200,000 front entrance for the hospital, which was opened last November.
The Blackwood Day Procedure Unit is named after the Blackwood family, which has been active in community activities around Warragul for many generations.
"The creation of the unit was a priority of the Board of Management because of extra demands for hospital services and an increase in the number of patients admitted for same-day procedures," Mrs Tehan said.
"Technological advancements in medicine over the past few years have led to a significant reduction in the amount of time patients stay in hospital, and many now only require same-day treatment.
"The Blackwood Day Procedure Unit is seeing up to 20 patients a day for a range of treatments including gastroscopies, colonoscopies, urodynamics testing, chemotherapy, haemodialysis and recovery from day surgery.
"In the past, many of these people would have had to travel to Melbourne or Traralgon, and so this new unit means they can get their treatment at
Warragul."
Mrs Tehan said the renovations required for the new unit were carried out by the hospital's own tradespeople. The funding was provided by the Andrews Foundation ($50,000); Warragul Rotary Club ($30,000); Drouin Lions Club ($10,000); Club 88 ($4500); Warragul Lioness Club ($2000) and Warragul Ladybirds Club ($700); several hundred smaller contributions and some accrued hospital capital.
The West Gippsland community was to be congratulated for showing such commitment, Mrs Tehan said.
"Community initiatives such as this are important for services in local communities," the Minister said.
"The West Gippsland Hospital is performing well under the Government's casemix funding formula. The development of this new unit should provide greater efficiencies in the treatment of patients.
"With the continuing support and involvement of hospital staff and the community, the West Gippsland Hospital will continue its important role in providing high quality services to the residents of West Gippsland and the growth corridor."
Mrs Tehan said the Victorian Government recognised the needs of rural hospitals, and supported developments that can ensure the integration and continuation of a high standard of service delivery to local communities.
The West Gippsland Hospital treated 3926 patients in the six months to the end of December 1994 - an increase of 17 per cent on the same period in 1993, she said.
Of the 3926 patients, 1871 were same-day patients - an increase of 37 per cent. The increase in same-day patients follows a world-wide trend and reflects in part a greater efficiency in Victoria's public hospitals and advances in medical technology and techniques.
Media inquiries:
Mark Triffitt, Press Secretary 015 311 301.
Graeme Walker, Manager H&CS Media Unit (03) 9616 7296.
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