The Allan Labor Government is ensuring locals in Castlemaine and the surrounding region have the care they need closer to home, delivering funding for important infrastructure upgrades at Dhelkaya Health.
Member for Bendigo West The Hon Maree Edwards MP has announced Dhelkaya Health – comprising Castlemaine Hospital, Maldon Hospital and CHIRP Community Health – has been awarded more than $1.9 million in funding through the Regional Health Infrastructure Fund (RHIF) to upgrade its operating theatre equipment and aged care facilities.
The operating theatre upgrade at Castlemaine Hospital includes replacing sterilising and clinical equipment – improving theatre productivity by ensuring staff have equipment that is fit for purpose, while helping drive down planned surgery waitlists.
Aged care upgrades will include patient hoists and tracking systems at Maldon Hospital and Ellery House residential aged care facilities, improving the health and safety of both staff and residents.
“We’re delivering better health infrastructure for locals in Castlemaine and the surrounding region, helping health services complete important upgrades – ensuring the best care is available closer to home," Ms Edwards said.
“Equipment upgrades will also ensure our hardworking staff have safer and more efficient facilities to continue delivering the world-class care our community is so grateful for.”
Across Victoria the latest round of RHIF grants is supporting rural and regional hospitals, community health services and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations to ensure they can continue to provide safe and efficient care to local communities.
With 45 projects across 39 rural and regional health services, the program is ensuring communities continue to have access to high quality care, no matter where they live, while also supporting hundreds of jobs across the state.
Established by the Labor Government in 2016 and overseen by the Victorian Health Building Authority, the RHIF program is now worth $790 million, making it the largest ever dedicated grants program in Victoria’s history. To date, it has delivered more than 675 projects funded for regional health services.
This builds on other recent RHIF investments at Dhelkaya Health totalling $7.6 million.
More information on RHIF can be found at vhba.vic.gov.au/health/regional-facilities/regional-health-infrastructure-fund.
