November 2003

Revamped Casterton Hospital unveiled

Health Minister Bronwyn Pike has opened the $6.2 million redevelopment of the Casterton Memorial Hospital.

Ms Pike said the redevelopment was bricks-and-mortar proof of the Government’s commitment to delivering high quality health care to all Victorians, no matter where they live.

The Casterton redevelopment includes:

• A new 30-bed aged residential high care facility;

• A new acute care facility, incorporating 11 multi-day stay rooms and four same-day beds, new emergency facilities and a central reception area;

• Primary care and community health facilities, developed from a major renovation of the former nursing home.

‘We expect some 800 inpatient admissions in the new acute care facility each year with more than 200 surgical procedures and more than 1,400 treatments in the emergency department.

‘Older citizens will not have to leave the area as the new aged care facility provides places for 30 older people needing high care.

‘And as with the satellite dialysis unit, the Monash IVF unit will also provide much improved access to specialised services for people living far from larger centres.’

For example, since the IVF clinics began operating at Casterton in January 1999 there have been almost 600 separate IVF treatments and 48 babies born—including nine sets of twins.

Ms Pike paid tribute to the fund-raising work of the local community—$345,000 was raised by local people towards the cost of the total project.

‘That’s a magnificent contribution from a community of this size,’ Ms Pike said.