Upgrades for Eaglehawk health centre

THE Eaglehawk location of Bendigo Community Health Services, or BCHS, will be temporarily relocated to other sites in Bendigo from late October as the building undergoes a multi-million-dollar refurbishment.

The medical practice will move to 75 Mitchell Street in Bendigo, while the allied health services will move to various locations in Bendigo and Kangaroo Flat, with patients able to book appointments with their usual practitioners.

“We understand these moves may be inconvenient for some of our clients, and we encourage them to reach out to us if they have any concerns,” said BCHS interim CEO Nicole Ferrie.

Ms Ferrie said BCHS staff will work to make sure patients are looked after during the 18 months of work planned for the Eaglehawk location and will provide regular updates to patients directly, through media, the BCHS website, and via social media channels.

The renovation project was announced in February last year following the receipt of a $7.3 million grant from the Victorian Government’s Regional Health Infrastructure Fund.

BCHS Eaglehawk has had minimal renovations since it was built in 1976.

According to a statement from BCHS in February last year, the health provider worked with EBD Architects on the planning with the aim of creating a more “open facility.”

The statement said the changes would enable better integration with the community and the improvement of resources for sustaining wellbeing.

Ms Ferrie added the refurbishment is not only a chance to improve the building’s structure and layout, but also to better respond to the health needs of patients.

“Over the past year we have undertaken extensive consultation with our community to determine people’s needs and expectations for their community health site,” she said.

“Bendigo Community Health started in Eaglehawk in 1974, and the site is still our primary medical and allied health centre.”

Ms Ferrie said the renovations will ensure the service provider’s longevity, and once finished, will be more spacious, have new community areas and equipment, and will begin offering more services.