Generous donations get HealthCare Bus on the road

THE Bellarine Community Health (BCH) ‘HealthCare’ Bus is almost finished and ready to hit the road.

BCH gratefully took ownership of the bus last week, after an extensive refit generously donated by Geelong’s Prestige Jayco.

This is an innovative approach to health care delivery taken by BCH to provide access to primary health care services to all people on the Bellarine Peninsula.

“We are excited to be able to deliver and provide quality primary health care services to our Bellarine Communities,” BCH deputy chair Fay Agterhuis said.

“This is new era for BCH as we step up and deliver the primary health services that our community requires and expects from us as the leader of primary health care on the Bellarine.”

The internal layout of the vehicle needed extensive conversion to make it fit for purpose, including removing the bed, shower, toilet and stove.

A treatment chair was installed along with additional storage, and the bus has also been wifi enabled together with a backup generator for power.

“We’re delighted to have been able to support Bellarine Community Health to make the Health Care Bus a reality,” assistant sales manager at Prestige Jayco Mitchell Lyster said.

“It’s great to see one of our vehicles transformed into something that will benefit communities on the Bellarine.”

Work is now almost complete to make the bus fully operational as a consulting space ready to use by BCH services.

“We are very grateful for the support of Prestige Jayco, other community organisations including the Rotary Club of Ocean Grove, Ocean Grove Anglers Club, Crowe Howarth Geelong, together with the general community for their very generous donations towards getting the BCH HealthCare Bus on the road,” BCH chief executive officer Shane Dawson said.

The HealthCare bus will be a multipurpose vehicle that will deliver a range of primary health care services across the Bellarine.

BCH will also be able to secure access to other health services through Telehealth using wifi services incorporated into the HealthCare Bus.

In addition, the HealthCare bus will support community campaigns such as dental checks at schools, flu vaccination campaigns, visiting local community events promoting increased awareness of critical primary health care services across the Bellarine Peninsula and surrounds.