The Andrews Labor Government is delivering the best healthcare for families in the Grampians with more than $8.7 million in upgrades at East Grampians Health Service’s Ararat Hospital on track to be finished by mid next year.
Minister for Health Martin Foley visited Ararat Hospital today for a first look at the multi-million-dollar project which will redevelop and expand the hospital’s theatre, radiology and pathology services, and relocate palliative care services.
Funded through the Labor Government’s Regional Health Infrastructure Fund (RHIF), the theatre redevelopment will increase East Grampians Health Service’s perioperative capability – reducing waiting lists in the region.
Funding will boost the number of day procedure beds to eight and recovery beds to four. An upgraded Central Sterile Supply Department (CSSD) will give the dedicated doctors and nurses at Ararat Hospital the reusable medical equipment they need to get more people off waiting lists and into surgery.
To improve access and efficiency the health services’ radiology, pathology and medical imaging department is being transformed to meet increased demand and the palliative care service will be relocated, delivering greater privacy for families.
Stawell Regional Health will also receive $1.45 million from the latest round of the RHIF – giving the hospital’s dedicated doctors and nurses the facilities and medical equipment they need to care for Victorians.
More than $995,000 will purchase new theatre equipment, including surgical laparoscopic cameras, portable ultrasound machine, anaesthetic machine, ENT microscope, a diathermy unit as well as theatre beds and trolleys and a further $457,000 will upgrade fire detection systems.
This latest funding builds on more than $6 million in RHIF funding invested in Stawell Regional Health for projects, including critical infrastructure upgrades, sterilising and storage upgrades, ICT system upgrades and nurse call systems.
The Government established the RHIF in 2016/17 to assist regional and rural health services to improve the safety and quality of services, service capacity, models of care, patient and staff amenity, and service efficiency. It has since funded more than 488 infrastructure projects.
The RHIF received a further boost in the Victorian Budget 2020/21 with an additional $20 million bringing total funding to $490 million. It is the largest program of its type in Victoria.
As stated by Minister for Health Martin Foley
“Over the past two years, our hospitals and healthcare services have been at the heart of our communities, providing vital care to Victorians during the global pandemic.”
As stated by Member for Western Victoria Jaala Pulford
“We are investing in hospitals right across the state and our dedicated doctors, nurses, other hospital staff and patients are set to benefit – including right here in our Grampians community.”
