$280,000 boost for South Gippsland Hospital

SOUTH Gippsland Hospital has been awarded a grant of $280,000 from the Coalition Government in the first round of Rural Capital Support Fund.

Across the Gippsland region, health facilities are sharing in $2 million as part of the $5 million allocated to 26 rural and regional health facilities across the state in the first round.

“The Victorian Coalition Government is delivering on its election commitment to establish the Rural Capital Support Fund,” said Mr David Davis, Minister for Health.

“Last December, we released the Rural and Regional Health Plan, which is our vision for the future development of health services in rural and regional Victoria,” Mr Davis said.

Following the announcement, health services were invited to apply for grants from the total pool of $56 million within the Rural Capital Support Fund, which aims to enable Victorians in rural and regional areas to have access to the best possible healthcare outcomes.

South Gippsland Hospital CEO, Peter Rushen, said that the success of the SGH’s application for funding is great news and that work can now get underway to expand the Urgent Care Department, the Medication Room and the Nurses’ Station.

“This work has been urgently needed for many years and it is wonderful news for our nursing staff, as we haven’t received funding from the government for building works for many years,” he said.

Mr Rushen explained that an upgrade of the Urgent Care Department is urgently required due to the increasing demand for emergency services, especially during peak tourist seasons, such as Christmas.

The other Gippsland health services to benefit from the funding are:

• Bass Coast Regional Health, which will receive $1.19 million to redevelop the Bass Coast Regional Health Public Dental Clinic at Wonthaggi Hospital;
• Bairnsdale Regional Health Service, which will receive $50,000 towards the fit-out of the on-site GP practice, as well as $20,000 to replace the existing aged suction equipment at its dental clinic;
• Central Gippsland Health Service will receive $470,000 to redevelop centralised intake and patient services in Sale.

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