Caring community boosts Yeoval health and aged care services
Minister for Ageing, Julie Bishop, opens a new extension to the Yeoval Multi Purpose Centre.
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24 July 2004 | JB139/04 |
Caring community boosts Yeoval health and aged care services
A partnership between the local community, the three levels of government and local health providers is delivering better health and aged care services to the people of Yeoval and surrounding regions.
Federal Minister for Ageing Julie Bishop was today joined by the Liberal Candidate for Calare, Paul Blanch, in opening a new extension to the Yeoval Multi Purpose Centre, which the Australian Government provided more than $411,000 for through the Bush Nursing and Small Community and Regional Private Hospitals program.
"The Australian Government believes that people in country Australia are best-placed to determine the health and aged care needs of their local community," Ms Bishop said.
"By funding this extension, the Australian Government is giving the people of Yeoval flexibility to tailor their health and aged care services to meet local needs."
The two storey extension includes a medical centre, incorporating a surgery and procedure room, a health clinic and waiting rooms for GPs, community nurses, allied health and other visiting specialists. It also includes a communal lounge and recreation area for hospital patients and aged care home residents.
Ms Bishop and Mr Blanch also delivered a $96,950 cheque to the Yeoval Community Hospital, which runs the Hazelhome Hostel and Yeoval Community Nursing Home, to help with upgrading building standards and fire safety.
"This funding is part of the Australian Government's $2.2 billion record funding package, Investing in Australia's Aged Care: More Places, Better Care, delivered in the 2004 Federal Budget," Ms Bishop said.
"The Yeoval Community Hospital will be able to use the funding to improve building standards and fire safety in these homes, which will help ensure residents continue to receive high quality care in an appropriate and safe environment.
"Older Australians in country areas will also benefit from the extra aged care places, funding to aged care providers for quality care and staff wages, capital works for aged care homes and education and training opportunities for aged care workers announced in the $2.2 billion funding package.
"This package, and services like the Yeoval Multi Purpose Centre extension, are helping the Australian Government deliver on its vision for a world class system of aged care that provides high quality, affordable and accessible services to meet the individual needs of older Australians."
The Bush Nursing and Small Community and Regional Private Hospitals program was designed to support and increase the viability of existing rural private health services. In the recent Federal Budget the Government announced the program would be replaced by the Rural Private Access Program, which will continue providing assistance to rural private hospitals, as well as providers of privately insurable health services.
Media contact: Rachael Thompson 0417 265 289