Central Highlands Rural Health’s (CHRH) talented, dedicated, and resilient staff overcame many unforeseen challenges in 2021-2022, according to Board Chair Phillip Thomson at the health service’s Annual General Meeting last Thursday evening.
The Chair said significant storm and flood damage, particularly across the Hepburn Shire, and the COVID-19 pandemic placed enormous demand on CHRH staff and resources, as documented in CHRH’s Annual Report.
Between August 2021 and the closure of our Testing Clinics at the end of last year, Kyneton Health conducted more than 85,000 PCR tests with up to eight staff working each during the peak periods. While in Daylesford, more than 11,500 PCR tests were conducted.
CHRH’s Home Monitoring of vital signs and support for 3,757 COVID-positive people, although little known outside the health sector, enabled people to stay home and reduce hospital admissions while maintaining peace of mind.
Mr Thomson said the diversity of CHRH’s programs across five campuses meant that when extraordinary events occur, even during a pandemic, the health service was able to address the needs of the communities it serves and the people within them.
“Our staff are now very well rehearsed in overcoming challenges through detailed planning and thorough preparation … responding with agility as each challenge arose.”
Mr Thomson said many of the year’s highlights were documented in the 2021-2022 Annual Report, including commissioning a masterplan to redevelop the Daylesford Health precinct thanks to a significant community fundraising effort.
“Although no government funding has yet been forthcoming, we remain committed to the redevelopment and will continue to advocate to bring the masterplan to fruition,” he said.
Other 2021-2022 highlights included:
- Successful delivery of the state’s key priorities to ensure a robust COVID-19 readiness and response, system reform, and the best value care
- $4.5 million in funding to upgrade the operating theatre at Daylesford
- $2.5 million to complete Stage 3 of the Creswick Aged Care redevelopment
- CHRH’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Team responding to residents impacted by the June 2021 and January 2022 storm events across the Hepburn and Macedon Ranges Shires and the flood event around Creswick
- Funding for two community disaster recovery programs Mow2Grow and The WoodCutter Club
- Submission of CHRH’s Gender Equality Action Plan to the Gender Equality Commission
- Receiving $175,000 in community donations
- Return of volunteers to a variety of programs
Please read the 2021-2022 Annual Report on the CHRH website to learn more.
