Patients and their families in the Goulburn Valley and surrounding communities will soon have better access to world-class palliative care services with construction on a new palliative care hub almost finished.
Minister for Health Martin Foley today inspected progress on Goulburn Valley Hospice Care Service’s new multi-million-dollar facility which is on track to be completed next month.
The new palliative care hub is being delivered with more than $937,000 from the fifth round of the Andrews Labor Government’s Regional Health Infrastructure Fund (RHIF) and will ensure that the Goulburn Valley Hospice Care Service can continue to meet the Greater Shepparton region’s growing need for specialist community palliative care.
Replacing an older facility from the 1960s, the new two-storey, fit-for-purpose building will accommodate the much-needed specialties of palliative care – nurses, social workers, counsellors, trained volunteers and other health professionals with spaces for training, family consultation, carer and bereavement support.
The new hub will also feature three courtyards, new energy efficient heating, cooling and hydraulic systems and an open plan office design style with multiple desk hubs to support infection prevention and air control flow.
The Goulburn Valley Hospice Care Service also features enhanced ICT infrastructure with a dedicated space for patients and their families to access telehealth consultations with specialists.
Funding for the new palliative care hub builds on previous Labor Government support for the Goulburn Valley Hospice Care Service, including nearly $80,000 in funding for ICT upgrades through previous funding rounds of the RHIF.
The RHIF provides government funding to rural and regional health services and agencies across Victoria so these services can continue to provide safe and efficient care to local communities. The program is now worth $790 million thanks to a $300 million boost from the Victorian Budget 2022/23, making it the largest program of its type in Victoria having funded more than 480 projects since 2016.
The latest round of RHIF is expected to be released in the coming weeks.
Quote attributable to Minister for Health Martin Foley
“This is an important service for managing end of life care and it is vital that these resources are accessible right around the state.”
Quote attributable to Member for Northern Victoria Mark Gepp
“This new world-class palliative care hub will ensure that patients and their families in Shepparton and the Hume region receive the best possible care and support close to home.”
Reviewed 15 June 2022