The Andrews Labor Government will fund a Clinical Services Plan for Bass Coast Health to help it better plan for the future.
Minister for Health Jill Hennessy announced the $30,000 grant while visiting Wonthaggi Hospital today as part of a Ministerial Delegation to the region.
The plan will help the health service map out its preferred future structure and configuration of services to the wider community, in order to ensure that it is best placed to meet the future demand and health care needs of the local community.
Ms Hennessy said the communities of South Gippsland could have every confidence in the future of their health services.
She inspected the site of the Phillip Island Health & Medical Hub site and met with staff and board members of Bass Coast Health at the Wonthaggi Hospital.
The Medical Hub will become an important asset for the communities on Phillip Island, providing an expanded range of allied health, counselling and nursing services, as well as specialist consulting rooms and an ambulance bay.
The Government is contributing $2.2 million to the $5.8 million project, which also includes $1.1 million earmarked from the proceeds of the former Warley Hospital.
A Community Consultative Group is keeping local groups up-to-date with progress, with the Medical Hub on track to open in early 2018.
Detailed design works on the project will be completed by the end of this year.
Bass Coast Health plays a key role in South Gippsland’s health network, and the Labor Government is supporting it to provide high quality services at Wongthaggi, San Remo, Cowes, Inverloch, Grantville and Corinella.
In the 2015-16 Victorian Budget, we provided $35.7 million for Bass Coast Health, which is an increase of more than $1 million in funding compared to what was provided by the former Coalition Government.
Through our $200 million Beds Rescue Fund we have also opened two new sub-acute beds which will treat an additional 48 patients a year.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Health Jill Hennessy
“The communities of Phillip Island can look forward to an expanded range of health services at their door when the new Medical Hub opens for business.”
“The development of a Clinical Services Plan will ensure Bass Coast Health has the right plans in place to best meet the future demand and health care needs of the local community.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020