Willaura Hospital redevelopment actively discussed

EGHS chief executive Nick Bush, Australian Government representative Shane Thomas, EGHS Board Director Sybil Abbott-Burmeister, EGHS Board Chair Cam Evans, Willaura Health Care Manager Liz Atkinson, Victorian Government representatives Janelle Hearn, Jo Cameron, Claire Sharry, EGHS Director of Clinical Services Bec Peters.

East Grampians Health Service Board Chair Cam Evans hosted a delegation of senior leaders from the Victorian and Australian Governments at Willaura Health Care.

Mr Evans said the redevelopment of Willaura Hospital is the number one priority for the EGHS Board.

“The facility needs a significant upgrade to meet the needs of patients and residents, staff and visitors,” he said.

“We house eight patients and two residents in the older part of the facility which is largely unchanged since it was built in 1935.”

The Department of Health reviewed the facility, with the role of Willaura to take patients from EGHS Ararat who may be needing longer to recover before going home, or NDIS and aged care patients waiting for a place to become available.

This then allows EGHS Ararat staff to take patients back from Ballarat Base hospital, theatre and the Urgent Care Centre and allow the staff to attend to pregnant women when required.

Victorian Government representatives who attended included Janelle Hearn, Executive Director, Aged Care, Cancer and Specialist Programs, Victorian Department of Health; Jo Cameron, Principal Policy Advisor, Operations and Performance, Westen Health Services and Aged Care; and Claire Sharry, Senior Program Advisor, Health Performance Grampians.

Australian Government representative was Shane Thomas, Senior Regional Officer, Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Aged Care.

Mr Evans said he was pleased with the interest of all involved to source the funding to redevelop Willaura Hospital.

The funds will be allocated in December.