Hospital site confirmed

Victorian Health Minister Martin Foley visited Phillip Island last week to confirm the site of the long-awaited Community Hospital.

The government has acquired the current PICAL site, next door to the Health Hub, which is where the new facility will be based.

“The Community Hospital will integrate into what the Hub is delivering,” the Minister said, also noting he hoped the facility would exceed community expectations.

But he made it clear while there will be a wide range of services on offer, the new Community Hospital doesn’t fit the mould of a traditional hospital.

Patients won’t be checking in and staying the night.

Minister Foley confirmed there will be beds at the hospital, but they won’t be used for acute overnight stays. Instead, the beds will be used for day surgeries and for stabilising and monitoring patients as needed.

“They will be available 24 hours a day,” he said.

Bass Coast Health CEO Jan Child said patients needing specialised care that required a hospital stay, would be sent to Wonthaggi or a suitable facility.

The new community hospital will offer outpatient care, community-based health and social care services, including medical and specialist appointments, women’s health, paediatric, mental health, public dental, diagnostic pathology and imaging, day chemotherapy, dialysis, urgent care, day surgeries and rehabilitation support.

Community input needed

The proposal for the new Community Hospital is already facing criticism from the Phillip Island Medical Health Action Group (PIMHAG), a group that has long campaigned for improved medical services on the island.

Peter Paul from PIMHAG said while they welcomed the announcement and looked forward to having a strong relationship with Minister Foley, more details were needed.

“The Minister didn’t mention a budget and we’ve got to ask, is it still adhering to the 24/7 no payment, 365 days a year model, the same as the Hub?

“Is there a date for building to commence? Is there a date for when we see the plan?” Peter questioned.

“We need to be able to see what’s on the plan and say, does this work here.”

During his visit, Minister Foley said designs for the new hospital were in, and Bass Coast Health (BCH) had put together a model of care that reflected the community needs.

“This is not coming from Lonsdale Street,” he stated.

BCH CEO Jan Child agreed, saying community was “at the centre” of the new plans and having health services in the local community, with great staff and services, would be better for patients.

However PIMHAG was critical of the lack of consultation and Peter Paul said the Community Consultative Committee appointed by the government was “missing in action”. He also stated neither the committee nor the community had input into the design for the new hospital.

“The transparency in this is unbelievably bad.”

Representatives from PIMHAG were not included in the Minister’s visit, instead meeting him briefly outside the Health Hub.

“We have forwarded him a letter inviting him to the island for an in-depth meeting,” Peter said.

He urged the Minister and Bass Coast Health to work with PIMHAG to get community input.

Bass Coast Health advised the budget and approval for the Community Hospital would be announced in May.

Care at home

Both Ms Child and Minister Foley spoke of an increased focus on care in the home, saying one positive to come from Covid was people embracing in home care and tele-health opportunities.

“People now are feeling more comfortable getting support in the home,” the Minister said.

“There’s been an increased demand and it will be the next big thing.”

He said there was growing evidence of better health outcomes when people were treated in their own homes and Ms Child agreed.

“Patients prefer it and we want to do it more,” she said.

The “Better at Home” program offers an alternative way for people to receive care and treatment in their own home. It aims to reduce the time spent in hospital or avoid hospital admission completely, with patients being visited by doctors, nurses or allied health professionals in their own home.

Focus on mental health

During his visit, Minister Foley also talked about mental health issues saying “Bass Coast is ideally placed for mental health hubs”.

“I look forward to working with the community to find the most appropriate location. We want services for people before they reach the edge of the cliff,” he said.

“The suicide toll is two times the road toll and we need to break that down, and get people coming forward for help.”