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The Goulburn Valley Health Community Advisory Group, which has been established to ensure that community needs are front and centre of the proposed redevelopment of Goulburn Valley Health’s Shepparton Campus, held its first meeting earlier this week.
The Andrews Labor Government provided Goulburn Valley Health with $1 million in the 2015-16 Victorian Budget, to plan for proposed redevelopment.
It’s vital that detailed planning is undertaken to ensure that any proposed redevelopment of the hospital provides the vital services the community needs.
Chaired by Independent Member for Shepparton District, Suzanna Sheed, the Community Advisory Group will be extensively involved in this planning process.
The Committee has 13 members, including patients, carers, health professionals, and community, local government and business representatives. The members are Sam Atukorala, Abigail Booth, Trevor Currie, Karyn Ferguson, Wendy Hunt, Jamie Lea, Paul Lelliott, Patricia Moran, Nicole O’Brien, Rob Priestly, Leanne Raditsis, Rodney Schubert and Ann Maree Sexton.
Goulburn Valley Health has identified a number of opportunities to improve the hospital’s acute health services over the next decade in its Service Plan, to meet the future needs of the Shepparton community.
This includes providing new heart services, developing an integrated model of care for patients with cancer, attracting more surgeons to the hospital, and enhancing maternity services.
The meeting on Monday included a tour of the hospital, enabling the Advisory Group to see first-hand the existing facilities.
A public forum will be held on Monday 14 December, and the Advisory Group invites all members of the community to attend and express their views on what they envision for a redeveloped hospital. Details of the Forum will be available soon.
Ms Sheed and the Advisory Group will work closely with Goulburn Valley Health and the Department of Health and Human Services on plans for the proposed redevelopment, and members of the community are strongly encouraged to contact the Advisory Group and share their feedback.
In the State Budget, the Andrews Labor Government provided additional funding to Goulburn Valley Health in 2015-16 which will see more patients to be admitted and treated. Goulburn Valley Health has also been provided with funding through the Government’s $200 million Hospital Beds Rescue Fund to open eight more acute inpatient beds. This will enable an extra 635 patients to be treated every year.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Health, Jill Hennessy
“The Andrews Labor Government cares about the health of all Victorians. We know that Goulburn Valley Health needs to improve their facilities, and that's why we’ve provided $1 million to enable planning to be undertaken.”
“It’s vital that we hear from the local community about what they want to see at their local hospital.”
Quotes attributable to Independent Member for Shepparton District, Suzanna Sheed
“I look forward to working with the Committee and hearing the views of the local community, so we can ensure our hospital meets the needs of our growing region in the years ahead.”
“The redevelopment of Goulburn Valley Health is long overdue. It’s vital that the community’s views are represented, and that’s why this Advisory Group has been established.”
Reviewed 10 February 2021