THE positive developments keep on coming at Mildura Base Public Hospital (MBPH).
Today, there is more good news, with the announcement that the new $3.9 million paediatric unit will be operational in the coming months, making an enormous difference for local families with sick children.
The stand-alone unit is designed to care for patients under 16 with an ensuite bathroom in each room and enough room for a parent to stay overnight with their child.
That the Victorian Government is continuing to invest in the hospital is having a positive knock-on in a number of key areas, most notably in the recruitment of quality staff.
A few weeks ago, Sunraysia Daily featured a profile on MBPH’s new head of obstetrics, Dr Brian McCully.
It was of particular interest to me, given that Dr McCully safely delivered our two eldest children back in Geelong, where he had an excellent reputation as a private obstetrician.
His appointment, given his stature and credentials, and also from our family’s personal experience, is a wonderful coup for the region.
Since the changeover, the hospital has welcomed Louise Litten as chief medical officer, who was recruited from Katherine, where she made an enormous impact, and a top-notch executive finance director in Matthew Jukes, who has decided to call Mildura home because of the lifestyle and career opportunities.
Then, of course, there is the new chief executive Terry Welch, who is not only having some wins on the recruitment front, but has changed the way the hospital engages with patients and their families, as well as the wider community.
As a newspaper, we have noticed this more open approach.
A MBPH spokesperson said the feedback to some of these changes had been overwhelmingly positive.
“We have reintroduced the ringing of the cancer bell and our week of joy was a celebration of our staff’s contribution,” the spokesperson said.
“We are no longer frightened to acknowledge and celebrate our achievements, but we also have a much more open approach to dealing with complaints, with Terry (Welch) personally meeting with patients and their families when a complaint has been lodged.”
The spokesperson also said the hospital was working hard to develop stronger ties with other health care providers in the region, meeting Mallee District Aboriginal Services (MDAS), Sunraysia Community Health Services (SCHS) and Mildura Private Hospital regularly.
“These organisations are no longer seen as competition but as part of the health care network,” the spokesperson said.
A recent announcement of a Mildura’s first radiation oncology service spoke to the strong working relationships that are being forged.
The service, which offers treatment for public patients from MBPH, will be run out of an integrated cancer centre at Mildura Health Private Hospital and is on track for a late 2021 opening.
While there may have been scepticism regarding the transition from private to public management, overall it’s certainly a case of so far, so good.
The Victorian Government, for its part, deserves a lot of credit for that.
But … and it is a big but … the government’s work is far from done.
It’s clear the growing Mildura population needs a new public hospital in the next five years to replace an outdated service model, which would take enormous government investment.
It’s not a wish. It’s a necessity.
This is a vast region, with extraordinary health needs that need to be met. But the government can be confident that it is also a region that presents fascinating challenges and career opportunities for professionals.
Build it and they will come. Ask Dr McCully.
