Finding your way around SGH now easier

FINDING your way around South Gippsland Hospital’s (SGH) neighbouring health service facilities, the Community Heath Centre and the Banksia Centre, is easier, with new signage now installed in and around the two centres.

This set of clear and easy-to-read name and direction signs is the second to be placed throughout the South Gippsland Hospital (SGH) precinct, matching the signage that went up inside and outside the main Hospital building last year.

Completing the wayfinding sign replacement is the start of an important project to further update and improve the two Centres for the benefit of staff, clients and local community groups.

The $60,000 project has been possible through the South Gippsland Community Health Foundation and a bequest received from the late Barbara Fletcher.

SGH chief executive officer Paul Greenhalgh said “we are all delighted that the Community Heath Centre and the Banksia Centre will be receiving a significant refresh thanks to the support of the Foundation and the kindness of Ms Fletcher.

“We chose to finish putting in the new signs first because a recent internal audit revealed that we were not compliant with the Aged Care Standards in relation to informing consumers about the location of services in our facilities,” he said.

“This project has addressed that issue, and the fact all three buildings are now in sync visually really is pleasing.”

Other elements of the project include relocating the District Nursing Service from the Community Health Centre to the Banksia Centre where there is vacant space well-suited to the Service’s requirements, along with undercover car parking.

Consulting space at the Community Health Centre will be expanded, with two more much-needed rooms soon to be available to allied health staff and their clients.

The amount of overnight accommodation rooms in the Banksia Centre will be increased to support students, and staff from South Gippsland Radiology, Prom Country Aged Care and the Hospital.

The Home Base care program will be expanded by assisting the Home Care package program staff with additional workstations, computers, monitors and telephones.

New window blinds will be installed in the Community Health Centre’s main community space, the RJ Fleming Room, to improve its amenity for staff, clients and community groups.

A projector and foldable tables on wheels will be going into the RJ Fleming Room, too, while external awnings will be mounted on the northern side of the Community Health Centre to conserve power through the summer months.

In addition, a set of height-adjustable electric parallel walking bars and a new exercise bike for client use will be bought for the Community Health Centre.

“The SGH maintenance team is adding to the overall upgrade of the SGH precinct as well by completing the interior painting at the Community Health Centre,” Mr Greenhalgh said.

“There are so many good elements to this story,” he said.

“It’s a win for our staff, for our community groups and, most importantly, for our clients who access day respite and social support at the Banksia Centre and attend the Community Health Centre for services provided by us or by others,” Mr Greenhalgh said.

 “The SGH Board and the SGH executive and staff team are very grateful for the generosity of the South Gippsland Community Health Foundation and the late Barbara Fletcher.”

Foundation president Graeme Baxter said he and his fellow Foundation board members were “proud to make another contribution that provides practical healthcare services and support for the people of the Corner Inlet district community.

“We are also glad to be aligned with Ms Fletcher’s bequest and her wish to help SGH and its work now and into the future,” he said

 “The Foundation’s guiding concept is to care for and to look after people close to home, and we appreciate the financial backing we receive from the members of the local community through their donations and in their wills.”

Comments are closed.