Media Release: $3.5 MILLION TO STRENGTHEN BUSH NURSING HOSPITALS

FROM THE MINISTER FOR HEALTH

DATE: Tuesday, May 25, 2004

$3.5 MILLION TO STRENGTHEN BUSH NURSING HOSPITALS

The Bracks Government is giving Victoria’s bush nursing hospitals and centres $3.5 million over the next 14 months for building upgrades and urgently-needed equipment, the Health Minister, Bronwyn Pike, announced today.

Ms Pike said that although the hospitals were private agencies and not part of the public hospital system, they played an important role in their rural communities which was supported by the Bracks Government. The major grants are:
· $800,000 towards the redevelopment of the Walwa Bush Nursing Centre.
· $263,000 to Balmoral Bush Nursing Centre for extensions;
· $140,000 to Sea Lake & District Bush Nursing Hospital to fit out a new kitchen and build a fire safety wall;
· $250,000 to Heyfield Bush Nursing Hospital for a link building and safety works;
· $279,000 to Elmhurst Bush Nursing Centre towards a building extension.
· $290,000 to Pyramid Hill Bush Nursing Hospital to relocate the reception and office following a recent expansion of beds, and to help cover the costs of refurbishing and extending the hostel.
· $144,000 to Mirboo North Aged Care for refurbishment of centre.

In March this year Ms Pike also officially opened the redeveloped Nagambie Bush Nursing Hospital, which last year received a $377,000 Bracks Government contribution to help to build an emergency stabilisation area and provide aged care services and primary health.

“While bush nursing hospitals are mostly private facilities funded through private health insurance, they provide an important service to many rural communities. The Bracks Government will continue to work with our bush nursing hospitals to ensure they continue to play a vital role.”

Ms Pike said the bush nursing hospitals and centres provided key health services to thousands of Victorians in some of the State’s smaller and more remote rural communities.

“Many of these hospitals have been under pressure in recent years because of fluctuations in the number of people with private health insurance, changing population patterns and changes in hospital practice,” Ms Pike said.

“In many cases by arrangement they provide hospital services to public patients, and are an integral part of their local community fabric. The Bracks Government recognises this key health role, and will continue to work with our bush nursing hospitals.”

Ms Pike said the funding for the next 14 months was part of a $7 million, four-year commitment by the Government for equipment and building works.

Bracks Government – Bush Nursing Hospital grants

Cobden District Health Service: $66,000 to buy 33 high-low beds to complete its bed replacement program.

Cobden District Health Service: $20,000 towards replacing its community bus, bought with Bracks Government funding three years ago.

Macedon Ranges Health Service: $80,000 for its communication and information technology infrastructure.

Macedon Ranges Health Service: $60,000 for 30 electric beds.

Pyramid Hill Bush Nursing Hospital: $170,000 to help cover the costs of refurbishing and extending its hostel.

Pyramid Hill Bush Nursing Hospital: $125,000 to relocate the administration and reception area following a recent expansion of beds.

Sea Lake & District Health Service: $140,000 towards fitting out a new kitchen being built with a previous Bracks Government grant, and to build a fire safety wall.

The Bays Hospital, Hastings and Westernport: $58,000 towards the purchase of a bus.

Heyfield Bush Nursing Hospital: $250,000 for a link building and fire safety works.

Neerim Bush Nursing Hospital: $25,000 to revise its service plan to develop a new strategic approach.

Neerim Bush Nursing Hospital: $22,350 to refurbish two rooms at the community health centre, build an ambulance entry and for painting and floor coverings.

Ballan Bush Nursing Hospital: $20,000 for emergency stabilisation equipment.

Ballan Bush Nursing Hospital: $10,000 to establish a Snoezelen room.

Ballan Bush Nursing Hospital: $122,590 to replace the freezer and coolroom, install air conditioning and replace a photocopier.

Chiltern & District Health Service: $31,257 to build an ensuites for a palliative care room.

Chiltern & District Health Service: $34,634 for a suite of medical equipment.

Yackandandah Bush Nursing Hospital: $11,360 for an electrical switchboard and communications system.

Yackandandah Bush Nursing Hospital: $10,300 towards medical equipment.

Yackandandah Bush Nursing Hospital: $9500 for two patient lifters.

Yackandandah Bush Nursing Hospital: $11,862 towards information technology equipment.

Euroa Health: $24,600 for a fire safety upgrade.

Euroa Health: $55,697 for a suite of equipment to improve occupational health and safety.

Nagambie Hospital: $30,000 towards a suite of emergency equipment.

Violet Town Bush Nursing Hospital: $59,000 for laundry and catering equipment.

Dartmoor & District Bush Nursing Centre: $25,000 for the Stage 1 development of a strategic and service plan to plan building works to improve design of premises to meet service delivery needs.

Balmoral Bush Nursing Centre: $263,694 towards building works to extend its premises increase efficiency and flexible service delivery.

Dingee Bush Nursing Centre: $25,000 for service planning

Dingee Bush Nursing Centre: $4176 for an emergency and general nursing equipment upgrade.

Dingee Bush Nursing Centre: $16,151 towards services replacement, repairs and maintenance.

Lockington Bush Nursing Centre: $22,000 for extending the consultants room and equipment.

Lockington Bush Nursing Centre: $15,000 towards the renovation of the Nurse Managers Residence.

Mirboo North Aged Care: $144,258 for refurbishment of centre.

Bracks Government – Bush Nursing Hospital grants

Dargo Bush Nursing Centre: $50,000 to buy a strip of land adjacent to centre to expand its building.

Dargo Bush Nursing Centre: $10,000 for information technology, including video conferencing equipment, networked computers and laptops.

Dargo Bush Nursing Centre: $10,909 for a medical equipment upgrade including gas-lift patient trolley, oto/ophthalmoscope and ECG.

Dargo Bush Nursing Centre: $10,000 to complete renovations and provide an emergency generator.

Cann Valley Bush Nursing Centre: $8385 for IT equipment including new server, printer, screen and video monitors.

Swifts Creek Bush Nursing Centre: $8400 towards a car to deliver services to remote and rural areas.

Swifts Creek Bush Nursing Centre: $3480 towards information technology equipment.

Swifts Creek Bush Nursing Centre: $11,270 for building improvements to the administration area, outside painting and installation of new carpet.

Gelantipy Bush Nursing Centre: $25,830 towards replacing the current vehicle with a more powerful 4WD to access remote areas with snow and icy conditions.

Gelantipy Bush Nursing Centre: $3480 for a video conferencing/broadband network project to improve links with services.

Gelantipy Bush Nursing Centre: $1260 for three oxy boot resuscitators to improve emergency response time.

Buchan Bush Nursing Centre: $9751 for renovations, including floor coverings to kitchen/bathroom, painting, replacement of chairs and curtains in the waiting room.

Elmhurst Bush Nursing Centre: $279,000 towards extensions, including an additional consulting room, larger activity room, relocation of administration, additional storage, staff amenities and kitchen improvements.

Harrow Bush Nursing Centre: $5000 to produce designs and plans for proposed extensions.

Harrow Bush Nursing Centre: $15,590 for a changeover vehicle.

Woomelang Bush Nursing Centre: $15,000 towards a service plan and needs analysis to chart future directions for the centre.

Lake Bolac Bush Nursing Centre: $16,200 for handrails and screens for the aged activity room and to build a room divider for the office.

Lake Bolac Bush Nursing Centre: $28,000 for a new vehicle to transport clients.

Walwa Bush Nursing Centre: $800,000 towards its $2.42 million redevelopment.