| For further information contact: Sandra McKay 9651 5799, 0408 120 068 Friday, 30 June 2000
REBUILDING OUR PUBLIC HOSPITAL SYSTEM
The redevelopment of the Colac Hospital was evidence of the Bracks Government’s commitment to rebuilding our public hospital system, the Health Minister John Thwaites said today.
Mr Thwaites said the Government had provided $13.5 million to expand and upgrade the Colac Hospital and stopped plans by the previous government to privatise its nursing home beds.
Mr Thwaites was visiting Colac to turn the first sod of the Colac Hospital redevelopment project.
“The Bracks Government is committed to keeping our hospitals in public hands and to improving rural health services,” Mr Thwaites said.
“The redevelopment of the Colac Hospital will enable a range of health care services to be consolidated on a single site within the ‘hospital precinct’ of the town.
“The new facilities will include labor delivery suites, operating theatres, accident and emergency services, general wards and the relocation of the Colac ambulance station.
“These works will provide better conditions for patients and staff and ensure the people of Colac and surrounding areas have access to quality public health care close to where they live.”
Mr Thwaites said the Bracks Government had halted the privatisation of nursing home beds from the Colac Community Health Services.
“Under the previous government, nearly 60 per cent of all nursing home beds in the Colac Community Health Services were to be sold off to the private sector,” he said.
“The Bracks Government put a stop to the privatisation of nursing home beds and these beds will now be included in the overall hospital redevelopment program.
“The Government is committed to ensuring that people in rural areas have appropriate access to a comprehensive range of public health services, including aged residential services.
“When the redevelopment project is completed, the Colac Hospital will provide 46 hospital beds, including seven day-stay beds, a birthing suite, 75 aged care nursing home beds and three respite beds.”
Media Release Attachment - ColacHospital.doc [Word, 97280 Bytes]
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