East Grampians Health Services receive visit from parliamentary secretary

EAST Grampians Health Services’ plans for an integrated community health centre expansion at Ararat Hospital received attention from the state government on Thursday.

The centre expansion would bring together a variety of health services together onto one site.

Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier Colin Brooks met with services chief executive Nick Bush to discuss the proposed project.

Mr Brooks said the hospital offered great service.

“The health service were very keen to showcase what they do, but  also the benefits of the project they have before the government at the moment,” he said.

“They do a great job there with some great staff and huge volunteer base, so I commend them on the work that they do.

“I will certainly be going back to Melbourne to relay to both the health minister and the premier the potential benefits of the proposal they are putting forward.”

Under the proposal maternal and child health services would be moved from the McDonald Centre to the refurbished centre.

Mr Bush said a bid had been put in with the state government for $4.12 million ahead of its May budget.

“It wasn’t funded in the budget so they are coming to have a chat in Ararat with us about it today,” he said.

“It will involve bringing them home and community care staff into the same centre.

“They will work closely together so it puts staff who go into homes under one roof.

“We are hopeful because we do know the present government is supportive of bringing services together.”

Mr Brooks praised the level of care offered at by the East Grampians Health Services.

“It is a fantastic set-up with a really wide range of services for the local community,” he said.

“They are a very innovative health service who integrate services to ensure patients have a wide range of services on the one site.”

Mr Bush said the planned centre would offer services for counselling, dental, health promotion, district nursing, maternal and child health, physiotherapy and youth services.

Courtesy of Ararat Advertiser