CENTRAL Gippsland Health Service will pursue funding to develop a master plan for Maffra and District Hospital.
CGHS board chairman Glenn Stagg said the board was committed to upgrading the facility for the benefit of a growing Maffra community.
“The board recognises the urgent need for redevelopment and will pursue all funding opportunities with the new Victorian government,” he said.
“Our preference would be for a complete rebuild, either as a one-off project or in stages.”
Maffra Hospital provides a variety of services to the Maffra and district community. The facility includes nine acute or sub-acute care beds and 30 high care residential aged care places.
Services offered are inpatient medical care including palliative care and short stay treatments. Midwifery patients can receive post natal care and community health offers programs such as stage three cardiac rehabilitation, walking and exercise groups and carers group.
A range of outpatient services are provided including maternal and child health, dietician, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, podiatry and drug and alcohol counselling. Diabetes and asthma education are also available.
According to Mr Stagg, any redevelopment would enable CGHS to expand some existing services such as home and community care, allied health and district nursing.
“There is also a possibility of providing outpatient x-ray services in the future,” he said.
“We want to assure the Maffra and district community that we are committed to providing the best possible service we can.”
The commitment from the CGHS board came after Gippsland East MLA Tim Bull called on Health Minister Jill Hennessy to visit Maffra Hospital to see the need for an upgrade.
Ms Hennessy stated she would schedule a visit when in the area, but did not commit to a timeframe.
During last year’s state election campaign, the Liberal-National Coalition committed $75,000 for the development of a master plan.
