Upgrades for regional hospitals

REGIONAL Victorians will be able to continue to access world-class care with more funding for regional hospitals to expand and upgrade their services and facilities.

Minister for Health Infrastructure Mary-Anne Thomas visited Heathcote Health on Tuesday to announce the ninth round of the Regional Health Infrastructure Fund.

Applications open on 22 November and Ms Thomas called for Victoria’s regional health services to apply for their share of $75 million in funding.

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

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

Once complete, the new facility will be a home for 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 built on the more than $2.6 million received in the fifth round of RHIF to upgrade the main kitchen and laundry facility.

The upgrade delivered a more modern, spacious and efficient working environment for staff, with these services making an important contribution patients’ stays.

Since establishing the fund in 2016, the government has funded more than 675 projects for regional health services.

“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,” said Ms Thomas.