| Thursday, 8 June 2000
BALLARAT BASE HOSPITAL REDEVELOPMENT ON TRACK
The completion of the redevelopment of Ballarat Base Hospital will ensure that it retains its role as one of Victoria’s key rural health agencies and continues to serve its community well, the Health Minister, John Thwaites said today.
Mr Thwaites inspected progress on the third and final stage of the redevelopment today after presenting Ballarat Health Services with its three-year accreditation certificate.
The Bracks Government committed $6 million in last month’s State Budget to complete the redevelopment.
“These works will provide for the refurbishment of the accident and emergency department, imaging facilities, intensive care, day surgery, outpatients and allied health and ancillary services,” Mr Thwaites said.
“These works will be the culmination of a long redevelopment program of Ballarat Health Services and its two campuses - Ballarat Base Hospital and the Queen Elizabeth Centre.
“These improvements are reflected in the three-year accreditation certificate, which has been approved by the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards.
“Accreditation is an important aspect of business for health facilities, and will become even more so in the future with community expectations and demands for quality assurance.
“Accreditation also strengthens confidence in the ability of an agency to deliver quality services and meet the needs of the community, and this is what Ballarat Health Services provides.”
Mr Thwaites said Ballarat Health Services had developed a close working relationship with St John of God Health Care, which was further enhancing the health of the local community.
Ballarat will have access to radiotherapy services from next year as a result of the Bracks Government’s negotiations to finalise an agreement with the Commonwealth on funding, he said.
The Budget also provided extra funding for neonatal facilities at Ballarat Base Hospital. Earlier this year Mr Thwaites also announced $240,000 for new patient monitoring equipment in the hospital’s accident and emergency department.
Media Release Attachment - BallaratBase.doc [Word, 98304 Bytes]
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