It’s free and it’s coming to Gippsland

IN AN exciting step forward the Royal Flying Doctor Service Community Transport service will be launching in the coming months in Gippsland with the all-important base, South Gippsland Hospital.

“In a really exciting development for our community, the South Gippsland Hospital are partnering with the Royal Flying Doctors,” South Gippsland Hospital CEO Paul Greenhalgh smiled.

“The Royal Flying Doctors have an enormous reputation of delivering high quality transport in other jurisdictions around the state and to have them expanding their service into Gippsland is fantastic.

“We’re the first site in Gippsland to formalise an arrangement and work to implement the free transport service for our community and surrounding communities to access health care.”

The service, whilst falling under a slightly different structure, will see the current voluntary transport taken to the next level.

“They are bringing a coordinator and vehicle and we’re providing the space.

“Our current volunteers will transfer across, and we will work to recruit new volunteers to really strengthen the service.

“What it means for people in our area is that if they’re unable to access health care we can provide that support – for someone to drive, pick them up and bring them to their appointment.

“It will also relieve the burden on the health care system in the acute response division by actively managing health.”

The Royal Flying Doctor Service Community Transport Team Leader, Erin Foster echoed Paul’s comments and excitement at the announcement.

“We are absolutely delighted to be partnering with South Gippsland Hospital and we’ve been blown away by the enthusiasm and care that the team have taken in engaging with us and also the existing volunteers. We are really thrilled by the partnership,” Erin said.

“We’re really lucky to have a space within the hospital to run the service out of but the partnership also means more than that. The local connections and having the backing of the local health service is really important for trust from the community, especially as it is vulnerable people who we are transporting.”

The Royal Flying Doctor Service and South Gippsland Hospital will be hosting drop-in sessions for those who are interested in volunteering and those who may be in need of the service at the Banksia Centre – South Gippsland Hospital.

Wednesday March 22 (2-4pm)

Tuesday March 28 (9-11am)

Monday April 3 (1-3pm)

And whilst the service will be based in Foster at South Gippsland Hospital, transport will operate throughout Gippsland, for example, enabling those in need to be collected from Venus Bay for appointments at Wonthaggi Hospital.

It’s an exciting step forward for the community and greater region.

To register your interest to be a volunteer or client call 7046 4664.