Albury Wodonga Health’s, Wodonga Hospital Campus, has secured a major funding boost of $14.5 million from the Liberal National Government.
$12 million in Government funding will support the development of a Mental Health Rehabilitation Unit on the Wodonga Hospital Site.
The unit will deliver inpatient and residential mental health rehabilitation programs to support patients transition from acute inpatient care to care in the community. It will also provide an alternative to acute emergency department presentations and admission.
Minister for Health, Greg Hunt said the financial investment is evidence of the Government’s commitment to ensuring all Australians have access to critical health services.
“Our Government’s funding of the Wodonga Hospital Campus will improve health outcomes and save lives,” Minister Hunt said.
“This latest announcement will provide services that meet the current and future health care needs of this part of regional Australia.”
“By delivering our plan for a strong economy we can make investments in projects like the new Mental Health Rehabilitation Unit,” Minister Hunt said.
Federal Member for Farrer, Sussan Ley said, “This will be a new delivery of care for this region, a service that will be utilised by the whole Albury Wodonga Health (AWH) catchment, crossing both the NSW and Victorian border.”
AWH CEO, Leigh McJames said, “AWH does not currently have an inpatient or residential mental health rehabilitation capability, despite the size of our regional catchment.”
“An in-patient rehabilitation capability is a key element of a contemporary mental health model of care.”
“It would significantly improve the transition of mental health care between acute and community services, avoiding emergency department presentations and acute inpatient admissions and supporting transition back to the community,” Mr McJames said.
In addition, the Government will invest $2.5 million for specialist clinics at the Wodonga Hospital site.
Liberal Senator for Victoria, Senator Jane Hume said, “This funding will deliver an expanded range of consulting clinical suites on the Wodonga Hospital site.”
“We are delivering better health services for the North East and Riverina regions.”
“The Liberal National Government shares AWH’s strong commitment to providing specialist services locally, so that people don’t need to travel long distances to access care” mentioned Senator Hume.
Treatment services include –
- Diabetes
- Respiratory medicine
- Cardiology
- Renal
- General medicine
- Geriatric medicine
- Palliative medicine
- Obstetrics regional consultation
- Anaesthetics pre-surgery review
- Community paediatric medicine and pain management
Mr Leigh McJames said “This funding continues to deliver on Albury Wodonga Health’s Master Plan, providing necessary infrastructure to support the delivery of expanded specialist services.”
Albury Wodonga Health is the largest regional health service outside of Barwon Health in Geelong, providing more ED presentations, wait list admissions and births than its peers including Bendigo, Ballarat and Wagga Wagga.