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Media 17 November 2009 Thriving Bush Nursing Hospital
Ballan District Health and Care’s GP Super Clinic was the first of 31 clinic’s to open in Australia, proving that the Ballan Bush Nursing Hospital is not following the same demise of other Bush Nursing Hospital’s in Victoria.
Despite continuous concerns with hospitals alike, Ballan District Health and Care, one of the remaining 8 Bush Nursing Hospitals, is experiencing National success and is one of the most thriving and developing hospital’s in the state.
After recent closures of 5 Bush Hospital’s in the last 4 years, Ballan District Health and Care continues to attract doctors, nursing staff, patients and significant funding allowing the health centre to expand and grow as healthcare trends change and develop throughout the country.
As the local district’s largest employer, Ballan District Health and Care plays an integral part in maintaining and bolstering the Ballan & district economy. Ballan District Health and Care employs more than 100 people and each year returns to the community more than $4 million in salaries, wages and purchases.
The hospital’s GP Super Clinic, opened official by The Hon Nicola Roxon MP – Minister for Health and Ageing and Catherine King MP Federal Member of Ballarat on Monday 14th September had 2210 patients utilised the facility in the first 2 weeks of it’s opening, again proving the demand and capacity of Ballan’s Bush Nursing Hospital.
The new centre includes 17 consulting rooms and a range of full time and visiting health services including; General practice, 24 Hour Emergency Care, Dental, Physiotherapy, Dietetics, Podiatry, Occupational Therapy, Psychology, Pathology, Echo cardiograms, Audiology, District Nursing, Community Health Nursing, Women’s Health Clinics, Chronic disease management, Drug and alcohol support services, Welfare Support Services, Emergency Relief, Optometry and Transport Connection, all services which are generally considered ‘unavailable’ in rural areas.
As concerns about the viability of Bush Nursing Hospital’s increase, especially after the threat and closure of Sea Lake, Ballan District Health and Care’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Glenn Rowbotham says that the success of the Ballan Hospital should provide hope for the other remaining hospitals alike.
“Through the provision of significantly improved and more accessible primary care facilities, better IT connectivity; a focus on chronic disease in innovative ways and through a commitment to training up the next generation of health practitioners it is our belief that not only this community of Ballan but the wider Australian rural and regional communities will benefit greatly from our achievements and the example we have set as a small rural community.” Mr Rowbotham said.
The core of success for Ballan’s hospital has come from community support and commitment, from the hospital’s management team and their efficient board of governance. The hospital, operating for over 40 years has well and truly built the capacity to remain operational well into the future and will continue to meet the demands of its community, as the population of the area continues to grow.
While the hospital is thriving, and providing national standards of community health care services, there is a funding gap of acute hospital care services.
As a Bush Nursing Hospital, Ballan District Health and Care’s funding lies between Federal and State Government responsibilities. Unfortunately, Ballan District Health and Care doesn’t receive the support for public acute care from Victorian State Government’s Department of Health, yet it is greatly warranted. This means that the Ballan and district community, a population of 10,000 which is growing rapidly, is without access to public palliative and sub acute care beds. In a recent health survey conducted by Ballan District Health and Care the need for local public acute care beds was identified by the community as the top priority for health care development.
This lack of funding means that Ballan District Health and Care is required to conduct their own fundraising to generate funds for these areas.
13 October 2009
Second Project for Hospital
After the successful Primary Care redevelopment Ballan District Health and Care have announced Stage 2 of an overall hospital redevelopment plan.
The Hospital is now making plans to redevelop the aged and acute care areas of the hospital including their existing 24 hours emergency stabilisation unit.
The Hospital’s CEO, Mr Glenn Rowbotham said that this new project will be one step closer in the complete modernisation of Ballan District Health and Care.
“We have had remarkable results and responses about our new Centre for Community Health but this is only just the start of our redevelopment plans. Mr Rowbotham said.
Board President, Mr James Hay explained that the next project is going to focus on increasing acute care facilities.
“We plan to increase the existing facilities so that we can offer more services here at the hospital and also cater for the increased demand of patients.” Mr Hay said.
The new redevelopment includes:
This project will be completed in sections, to allow constant and uninterrupted operation of the hospital during construction.
The total cost of this project is estimated to be around $3 million. At this stage the hospital has no Government funding.
“Because we are a community owned hospital, we may not get any assistance from the Government, and if we do it will only be minimal. We will be relying on community fundraising for the majority of these funds.” Mr Rowbotham said.
Ballan District Health and Care hope to start construction early 2010.
5 October 2009
Community Opening Celebration
Ballan District Health and Care celebrated the opening of the new Centre for Community Health with a Family Fun Day on Saturday 3rd October.
Hospital CEO, Mr Glenn Rowbotham, Moorabool Shire Mayor, Mr Michael Tudball and local GP Dr Anthony Mariampillai addressed the crowd of more than 400 people and untied an official ribbon, marking the community opening of Australia’s first GP Super Clinic.
Mr Glenn Rowbotham, CEO of Ballan District Health and Care expressed his sincere gratitude to each and every one of the centre’s financial donors.
“There are close to 200 financial donors of this centre and I would like to thank each and every one of you. Without you, this was impossible.
“This is not a Government building nor is it a private business...this clinic, and the hospital, is not for profit and community owned which means each and every resident in the district can call this their own and on behalf of the Ballan District Health and Care team, I hope that you are all as proud of that as we are. “ Mr Rowbotham said.
The day’s festivities included a free sausage sizzle, free health checks and free children’s activities as well as guided tours through the new centre.
Radio station 3BA broadcasted live from the event and special appearances from Harold the Giraffe from the Life Education Van kept the children entertained.
More than 300 people were toured through the centre, by friendly board and committee members, all of whom were overly impressed.
Dr Anthony, GP for 22 years in Ballan, said it was his privilege to be opening the facility in front of such a crowd.
“In my decades here I have seen the hospital continuously expand and develop and I have to say this new clinic is definitely a break through. I too have been blown away with how the community has got behind this project. I cannot thank our community enough for your support. We have so many services here now and we should all be proud of what we have built!“ Dr Anthony said.
Mayor Michael Tudball said that this project is an example of what the shire is able to achieve, by working together.
“Ballan is one of the Shire’s gems and is a growing community. It is also increasingly popular with young families – all who will benefit from having such first class facilities close at hand. This hospital is growing because Ballan is growing.” Mr Tudball said.
The centre is now fully up and running and has had 1479 patients through since the doors opened on September 14th.
Services available in the new centre include General practice, 24 Hour Emergency Care, Dental, Physiotherapy, Dietetics, Podiatry, Occupational Therapy, Psychology, Pathology, Echo cardiograms, Audiology, District Nursing, Community Health Nursing, Women’s Health Clinics, Chronic disease management, Drug and alcohol support services, Welfare Support Services, Emergency Relief and Transport Connection.
20 September 2009
All smiles for Ballan
Ballan’s Centre for Community Health’s first Dental patient visited Dr Marianne Brownlee Thursday morning.
The new dental clinic is a very welcomed addition to the Centre for Community Health for the many people living in the Ballan district who have to travel or are on a waiting list to see a dentist.
The dentist, Dr Marianne Brownlee said that “Having good dental health is fundamental to overall good health generally”. Research shows that good oral health is paramount with poor oral health being associated with a number of health conditions including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, pneumonia and poor self esteem. Some of the signs of poor oral health are bleeding gums, bad breath, and sensitivity to hot or cold food.
The dental services being offered will be for all age groups with a keen emphasis on preventative and restorative oral healthcare. Dental services are fee for service however the dental service is available to see teenagers (secondary school age students) who have been issued with a Commonwealth funded teenager dental assessment voucher and those who have government funded public dental vouchers.
The public dental health care appointments may also be available through a medical doctor’s referral for those people who are eligible for dental treatment under the Commonwealth Government Chronic Health Care program. For more information about this program and the dental service please contact the Centre for Community Health on 53 667 909.
To help celebrate the new dental service, and the opening of the new clinic hospital is holding an opening celebration on Saturday 3rd October from 12noon – 3pm. The clinic will be open for tours and the hospital will be supplying a free sausage sizzle, free personal health checks and a range of free children’s activities. Power FM, 3BA and Life Education, including ‘Harold the Giraffe’ will be a part of this special celebration. The entire district is invited to this event.
14 September 2009
A National Achievement for Rural Town
Moorabool’s health is in good hands, with Australia’s first GP Super Clinic opened official by The Hon Nicola Roxon MP – Minister for Health and Ageing and Catherine King MP Federal Member of Ballarat in Ballan on Monday 14th September.
After considerable Federal Government funding and 12 months of community fundraising the Ballan hospital has been able to build this multi milliard dollar facility. Ballan’s new Centre for Community Health is the first of 31 GP Super Clinics to open in Australia, making it a national first.
The new centre includes 17 consulting rooms, an increase from 3, and a range of full time and visiting health services including; General practice, 24 Hour Emergency Care, Dental, Physiotherapy, Dietetics, Podiatry, Occupational Therapy, Psychology, Pathology, Echo cardiograms, Audiology, District Nursing, Community Health Nursing, Women’s Health Clinics, Chronic disease management, Drug and alcohol support services, Welfare Support Services, Emergency Relief and Transport Connection.
“The Ballan GP Super Clinic is a tangible and direct response by the Rudd Government to local health needs identified by the local community, and working in partnership with that community.” Catherine King MP.
The total cost of the centre was $2.3 million. Government contributed $1.4 and the remaining $900,000 was raising here in the community.
Hon Nicola Roxon MP – Minister for Health and Aging said special congratulations to Ballan.
“It is no small feet to raise $1 million. Look what can be delivered with a combined effort from the Government and community. Ballan’s commitment has made our commitment possible and also our dreams a reality.
“Australia’s first GP Super Clinic has came from the combined effort and hard work of this small community. All three levels of Government are so proud of what has been achieved here. Hon Nicola Roxon said.
Mr Rowbotham, CEO of the Ballan District Health and Care said the hospital is overwhelmed with how far they have come in such a short period of time.
“We could not have done this without the support from Government and the very generous contributions from our donors whom have been fundraising for over twelve months,” he said.
“This is an outstanding achievement for our hospital, and for Ballan. We have not only expanded our facilities, we are now a national first for state-of-art health care.
“All those involved at the hospital are very excited at the prospect of initiating a new contemporary model of healthcare which focuses on the prevention and management of Chronic Disease and also helps to build the capacity of the rural health and medical workforce. We have very well trained and professional staff and now we will have the facility and the relationships with medical training organisations to strengthen regional health care into the future.” Mr Rowbotham said.
A long term resident of Ballan, and also patient of the hospital, Mary Lorensini was one of the first patients to use the new facility Monday morning.
“It is just beautiful and so modern. I think I might have my 95th birthday party right here in the waiting room, there is so much room!” Mary said.
To help celebrate the opening of the new clinic, and Ballan’s national achievement, the hospital is holding an opening celebration on Saturday 3rd October from 12noon – 3pm. The clinic will be open for tours and the hospital will be supplying a free sausage sizzle, free personal health checks and a range of free children’s activities. Power FM, 3BA and Life Education, including ‘Harold the Giraffe’ will be a part of this special celebration. The entire district is invited to this event.
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