COVID patients in Sunraysia are no longer being transferred to Bendigo for treatment, as Mildura Base Public Hospital becomes the first sub-regional health facility in Victoria to be authorised to care for those who are seriously ill.
The Mildura hospital now has one ward of eight beds and two ICU beds dedicated to COVID patient treatment.
To offer such care, hospitals must meet certain technical criteria, particularly in terms of air circulation, and these areas meet these requirements.
Upgrades in other parts of the hospital will be carried out to allow for an expansion of bed numbers.
Hospital chief executive Terry Welch said the change to “streaming”, the term applied to the flow of patients through the clinical system, meant local people would no longer need to be sent to the larger regional city of Bendigo, or Melbourne.
The hospital’s home-monitoring treatment program for patients who are not seriously ill or at risk of death, which was by this week caring for more than 600 people, will remain in place.
“We are the first hospital of our size to have that sign-off and credentialling from the state controller, which I think is a great feather in the cap of the team here and a great testimony of confidence,” Mr Welch said.
“It’s always been our ambition to provide care locally when we can, where we can do so safely and effectively, and this is another step in that direction.”
Another 88 COVID cases were reported in the Mildura local government area on Wednesday, for a total of 710. In the Robinvale postcode, a further 16 cases were reported , for a total of 132.
Statewide, 21 COVID deaths were reported on Wednesday and there was a record 946 hospital admissions. About 40,000 confirmed or probable (positive RAT results) cases were also reported.
