Financial boost for regional hospitals

VICTORIA’S regional health services have been encouraged to apply for their share of the seventy-five-million-dollar available in funding as part of the ninth round of the State Government’s Regional Health Infrastructure Fund.

The RHIF delivers projects including theatre refurbishments, new waiting rooms and hospital beds, accessible paths and ramps, additional consulting rooms, expansion projects and equipment upgrades.

Since 2016 more than 675 regional health services projects have been funded under the program.

Heathcote Health, for example, received more than $6.5 million in the last round to deliver its new Community Health Hub.

Once complete, the new facility will be home to their Community Services Program and a one-stop-shop for a range of local community services.

The new building will feature a training and education area, private clinical appointment rooms, therapy and exercise space as well as staff and student accommodation.

This builds on the more than $2.6 million Heathcote Health received in the fifth round of RHIF to upgrade their main kitchen and laundry facility – which delivered a more modern, spacious and efficient working environment for staff.

“RHIF is all about giving our regional health services the best facilities and the latest equipment to deliver safer, more efficient care in every corner of the state,” Minister for Health Infrastructure Mary-Anne Thomas said.

RHIF submissions, which are also open to community health services and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations, close on Friday 10 January next year.

For more information, visit vhba.vic.gov.au/health/regional-facilities/regional-health-infrastructure-fund.