Hospital to receive day surgery

By Ed Merrison
THE Angliss Hospital will received a new $1.3-million day surgery unit, one of a suite of major developments.
Health Minister Bronwyn Pike announced the development during a visit to the Ferntree Gully hospital to open new operating theatres yesterday (Monday).
The day surgery unit will replace the old, unused emergency department.
“Transforming the former emergency department into a purpose-built facility with 20 recovery beds will complement the redeveloped operating suite and will also help patients access quicker elective surgery,” she said.
Ms Pike took a tour of the $300,000 operating suite, part of what she called a ‘major overhaul’ to improve elective surgery options and other services.
“By converting a small procedure room into this comprehensive operating suite with a new $956,000 CT scanner and $208,000 surgical camera system, better services are now more accessible in the outer eastern suburbs,” she said.
The latest announcements follow news of a newly completed 200-space car park and the commencement of capital works on the Angliss Ambulatory Rehabilitation Centre (ARC).
Federal MP for Latrobe Jason Wood and State Aged Care Minister Gavin Jennings turned the first sod on the ARC site on Thursday, 16 March with Monbulk MP James Merlino and Ferntree Gully MP Anne Eckstein also in attendance.
The new centre is part of the Commonwealth Government’s Pathways Home program and has been made possible by $4.3 million in Commonwealth Government funding.
Mr Wood said the program was an excellent example of the Australian Government working with the states to achieve better outcomes for patients.
“The Pathways Home Program in Victoria focuses on ambulatory care development, specifically home-based and centre-based rehabilitation services and the establishment of centres promoting health independence.
“The Pathways Home Program enables services such as community nursing and other clinical assistance to mostly older people so that when they leave hospital they can receive appropriate care, rehabilitation and support,” he said.
Eastern Health aged care and rehabilitation general manager John Isaacs said the centre would include assessment, rehabilitation and education services.
Mr Isaacs said it would bring together a team of dedicated people across a multitude of clinical disciplines, including doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, social workers, psychologists, dietitians and speech pathologists.
“The development of this new Community Rehabilitation Centre at Angliss Hospital will assist us to meet the rapidly escalating demand for services both for older persons and other people with complex needs,” he said.