Neerim Health has confirmed plans for a major upgrade of facilities next year will deliver a range of new health and wellbeing services for elderly residents, families and the broader community.
Speaking at the Neerim District Soldier's Memorial Hospital's annual general meeting, board chair Sean Dignum said the Federal Government had confirmed $5 million funding to facilitate the upgrade to incorporate a new community health hub, with a focus on aged care services and family care services.
Mr Dignum said the board recognised healthcare was undergoing major change and increased population had created greater demands on the health service.
"We recognise that many small rural services such as ours have been struggling. In the case of Neerim Health, we have been fortunate that our recognised surgical capability and state- of-the-art operating theatre has underpinned our ability to keep going for many years."In 2024, Neerim Health is going back to the future with a return to providing a broader service range for families, the aged and people with illnesses that require ongoing treatment and monitoring, while maintaining our surgical services," Mr Dignum said.
"It will reduce the need for families to drive their elderly relatives or children more than hour to receive some medical treatments or regular checks that we will soon be able to provide locally. While Neerim district only has a population of less than 4000, we are within 15 minutes of a catchment of over 30,000 residents. If we can also assist some of them, it benefits both the broader community and the sustainability and growth of Neerim Health."
With an increase in people moving to the Neerim District post COVID, Mr Dignum said there were greater demands on the local healthcare service.
"The Neerim Health board and management recognise that we need to evolve and further build on our core competencies to deliver new services if we are to emerge from decades of financial challenges and achieve a solid foundation for future success."
Some of the new services currently being evaluated by Neerim Health include:
A day procedures centre;
Specialist and allied health consulting suites;
An aged care day respite hub and "hospital at home" services;
Tele medicine facility;
Young family care centre; and,
Rural health training.
Neerim Health Service is currently working with architects, local doctors, Latrobe Regional Hospital and Monash Rural Health as the first stage of the upgrade.
"We are optimising first-stage redevelopment, to create an efficient and modern health hub which supports the community, focusing on young families and the elderly," Mr Dignum said.
Last week, Neerim Health also announced a six month transition for its Tarago Views Aged Care residents.
Mr Dignum said maintaining residential aged care had been a long-term challenge for Neerim Health.
"We currently only have 14 residents and are limited to 25 beds which haven't been full for a long time. However, instead of closing and giving residents a matter of weeks to find alternatives, we have arranged for a six month transition period to allow the introduction of the new services and will not start reconstruction works until July next year.
"Mindful of our current residents' well-being, each resident and their family are being assisted to find alternative accommodation that matches their needs and expectations," he said.