THE $36.3 million redevelopment of Kerang District Health took another major step yesterday.
The completion of work on the refurbished ground floor section of the original two-storey hospital building in Burgoyne Street enabled staff to move nine patients from the temporary wards in the new Glenarm nursing home into the new acute medical and surgical section.
The first patient moved into the new facilities was 77-year-old Teal Point resident, Barbara Salter.
She was moved through the new link between the nursing home and the acute ward in a wheelchair while nurses followed with her bed, medications and personal belongings.
Slightly over-awed by all the attention, Mrs Salter said, “It looks very nice.”
The certificate of occupancy for the new section was issued on Friday. It includes the new wards, all with their own ensuites, a palliative care suite with family facilities, the new urgent care centre, staff room and link to the theatre and radiology.
Health service chief executive officer, Robert Jarman said that the 30 nursing home residents will be moved into the new nursing home in a planned four-hour operation tomorrow.
The new public and ambulance urgent care entrance is now located at the rear of the health service, accessible via the driveway and footpath at the eastern end of the health service, adjacent to the new ambulance station.
A public open day to enable citizens to inspect the new facilities will be held on ANZAC Day next Monday between 12.30pm and 2.30pm. Entry will be via the temporary entrance through the allied health wing.
The current Glenarm nursing home will soon be demolished to enable construction of the new entrance canopy and public car park at the western end of the precinct.
