Pivotal time for Bass Coast Health

WITH the first stage of the Wonthaggi Hospital expansion nearing completion and both Labor and Coalition Governments pledging hundreds of millions of dollars for the next stages, Bass Coast Health (BCH) is entering an extraordinary chapter.

Throughout October, BCH has been undertaking community forums to update the public on where the organisation is at and plans for its future.

This includes the hospital’s expansion, current and future services, workforce projections, priorities for the coming years and the new Phillip Island Community Hospital. 

At a recent session, BCH CEO Jan Child gave an overview of how the organisation is growing into a sub-regional health service. 

“It’s only been in the last two years we got ourselves into this playing field,” she said.

“That’s because we’ve done a lot of work to grow our services.

“Our job is to make sure we are growing our services and to look after more complex patients, and improve the numbers of people that can be treated locally.”

Another topic Ms Child discussed was ongoing issue of staff and the effects it was having on BCH.

“I’m going to sit here and say to you I don’t have enough staff… but I don’t know of a health service or any health provider that have enough right now,” she said.

“But what I do want to say is we’ve had really strong growth while others have had less growth.”

Attendees were also given a tour of what the completed hospital expansion would look like and some of the services.

“It will include a huge emergency department that’s future proofed,” she said.

“It’s bigger than what we need right now but it will be able to hold us steady for a couple of decades.”

Ms Child also highlighted that building works are expected to commence for the Phillip Island Community Hospital this week, with hopes it will open by late 2024.

The hospital will offer a range of health services including urgent care, dialysis, chemotherapy, day surgery, public dental, allied health, women’s health, family violence support, and community mental health.

There are still plenty of forums upcoming including:

October 24 - Wonthaggi Golf Club - hosted by BCH Ladies Auxiliary - 1:00pm-2:30pm

October 25 - Phillip Island Golf Club - hosted by Phillip Island Health Hub Auxiliary - 12:30pm-2:00pm

October 25 - Online Open Access Community Forum #3 - 5:30pm-7:00pm

October 27 - Inverloch Hub - hosted by BCH Inverloch Auxiliary - 5:30pm-7:00pm

October 28 - Newhaven Yacht Squadron - hosted by San Remo Op Shop Auxiliary - 10:00am-11:30am

For more information, visit www.basscoasthealth.org.au/roadshows