Forums celebrate the future of healthcare in Bass Coast

News

Bass Coast residents have seized the opportunity to learn more about their local health service at community forums hosted by Bass Coast Health (BCH).

Forums have been held at Corinella, Phillip Island, Grantville, Wonthaggi and via Zoom, and there are more forums to come.

BCH CEO Jan Child has been informing the community about the Wonthaggi Hospital Expansion (WHE) due to open in December, the Phillip Island Community Hospital to open in late 2024, and our current and future services.

“We are so excited to be expanding the range of services that we currently offer the community, enabling more people to receive care locally, and we are thrilled to be sharing these wonderful developments with everyone at these open access forums,” she said.

The forums have been hosted by our Community Advisory Committee and BCH’s Auxiliaries (Phillip Island Health Hub Auxiliary, San Remo Opportunity Shop Auxiliary, BCH Ladies Auxiliary and Inverloch Fundraising Auxiliary), and the Phillip Island Medical and Health Action Group.

The Grantville forum was hosted by the Grantville Country Women’s Association at the Grantville Hall, where CWA members proudly presented BCH with a cheque towards cancer services.

Forum participants heard that BCH treated 12,629 inpatients in 2021-22 and offered 17,000 medical specialist appointments during the same period, with most specialists hailing from Alfred Health and Monash Health.

Those figures are expected to grow with the opening of the WHE, which will offer a larger Emergency Department, a new surgical ward and ultimately three operating theatres with a dedicated procedure room for endoscopy.

The Phillip Island Community Hospital will be a double-storey building built next to the Health Hub, on the former PICAL site. Earthworks start this week.

The hospital will include chemotherapy and renal dialysis facilities, dedicated areas for mental health and paediatric patients, a radiology precinct, an expanded urgent care centre and non-retail pharmacy.

At the forums, people have also learnt about volunteering opportunities with BCH, such as volunteer driving, and care programs provided in patients’ homes.

Ms Child also shared that among the Bass Coast’s health concerns are alcohol-related conditions, and high rates of bowel cancer, diabetes and family violence.

“People who attend our forthcoming forums will have ample opportunity to ask questions about their health service and contribute their ideas about how we can make our health service even better,” Ms Child said.

Further forums will be held on:
• Monday 24 October, Wonthaggi Golf Club, 1pm-2.30pm
• Tuesday 25 October, Phillip Island Golf Club, 12.30pm-2pm
• Tuesday 25 October, online via Zoom, 5.30pm-7pm
• Thursday 27 October, Inverloch Community Hub, 5.30pm-7pm
• Friday 28 October, Newhaven Yacht Squadron, 10am-11.30am.

Register online: www.basscoasthealth.org.au/roadshows
Alternatively, email publicrelations@basscoasthealth.org.au