Annual appeal set to upskill Lorne Community Hospital

LORNE Community Hospital is calling for support of its annual appeal as rural medical services continue to face pressures due to the pandemic.

The hospital’s appeal has been running for more than 20 years and funds raised are used to provide services and equipment which are not covered by government funding.

Since integrating with Otway Health, medical services along the region have improved but the need for support has not changed.

In the wake of the global pandemic many rural hospitals faced increasing pressure to grow and adapt as the virus worsened.

Hospitals ran out of PPE or lacked the required resources in the beginning stages of COVID-19, with many realising a greater need to prepare for mass outbreaks in the future.

“Right now, at Great Ocean Road Health, we are facing the biggest challenge in our history as we fight against the COVID-19 pandemic,” communications advisor Emily Lens said.

Annual appeal donations will help to fund education and upskilling of staff, particularly in urgent care, as well facility and technology upgrades to meet changing pandemic requirements.

“Our staff are going above and beyond to care for and protect some of the most vulnerable members of our community,” Ms Lens said.

“However, we are feeling the true impact of this additional strain on our health service and we know this will continue for some time.”

The money raised will be utilised to grow the workforce at Lorne over the next 12 months as rural hospitals continue to face a shortage of medical staff.

Additional funds will be accessed to continue to establish innovative ways to interact with the community such as telehealth and other platforms that better support at-risk demographics.

Under the Great Ocean Road Health conglomeration, Otway Health is running its first annual appeal, raising money to better adapt to COVID-19 and other mass outbreaks in the future.

To donate to the annual appeals head to www.greatoceanroadhealth.com.au/support-us/