Full description
On 29 August 2010, the Greater Western Area Health Service was forced to close the Gulgong District Hospital. This followed a WorkCover inspection in March that year which identified serious safety concerns, primarily associated with the presence of asbestos. (1) At the same time it was announced that the Gulgong community would receive a HealthOne facility - which would co-locate GP services, primary care nursing services, community nursing, child and family health services, allied health services and pathology services - and that the Government would pursue funding for a Multipurpose Service (MPS). (2)
The Multi-Purpose Services program was a joint Commonwealth and State government initiative designed to make health and aged care services sustainable in small regional communities where services were limited, often dispersed and disconnected. (3)
In May 2012, a development application was lodged (4) seeking approval for the development of the HealthOne facility into an MPS and the partial demolition of the existing hospital buildings. (5) The application was approved on 2 July 2012. (6) The HealthOne centre opened on 31 July 2012 (7) and construction of the MPS commenced in March 2013. (8)
On 7 March 2014, the Gulgong Multipurpose Service was handed over to the Western NSW Local Health District. (9) It was operational by August that year. (10)
Incorporating the HealthOne facility, the MPS provided primary and community care and an emergency care service, clinical and operational support services, diversional therapy, dementia services and a patient lounge and courtyard. There were four sub-acute beds, six high care residential aged care beds and two treatment beds in the emergency department. (11)
Endnotes
1. Greater Western Area Health Service Media Release: 'HealthOne Announced For Gulgong' https://wnswlhd.health.nsw.gov.au/index.php?select1=Media&option=Archive&option2=1129 (accessed 1 June 2016).
2. Loc. cit.
3. Issues Paper 2009 - Multi-purpose Services, Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association, p.5 https://ahha.asn.au/sites/default/files/docs/policy-issue/multipurposeservices_0.pdf (accessed 30 May 2016).
4. Western Joint Regional Planning Panel: 2012WES007 DA - Gulgong Multi Purpose Health Service & Partial Demolition of Existing Hospital (DA0313/2012) http://www.jrpp.nsw.gov.au/DevelopmentRegister/tabid/62/ctl/view/mid/424/JRPP_ID/1065/language/en-AU/Default.aspx (accessed 6 June 2016).
5. Joint Regional Planning Panel - Western region, DA0313/2012 Assessment Report and Recommendation http://www.jrpp.nsw.gov.au/DesktopModules/JRPP/getdocument.aspx?docid=6456 (accessed 6 June 2016).
6. Record of Decision - The Western Joint Regional Planning Panel, 2 July 2012 http://www.jrpp.nsw.gov.au/DesktopModules/JRPP/getdocument.aspx?docid=6532 (accessed 6 June 2016).
7. Gulgong Multi-Purpose Service Project http://www.wnswlhd.health.nsw.gov.au/index.php?select1=Building%20Projects&option=Gulgong%20Multi-Purpose%20Service%20Project (accessed 1 June 2016).
8. Loc. cit.
9. Loc. cit.
10. 'Gulgong MPS now open for 24-hour emergency care' in Mudgee Guardian, 4 August 2014 http://www.mudgeeguardian.com.au/story/2460733/gulgong-mps-now-open-for-24-hour-emergency-care/ (accessed 1 June 2016).
11. Greater Western Area Health Service Media Release: 'State-of-the-Art Gulgong MPS Complete' http://www.wnswlhd.health.nsw.gov.au/UserFiles/files/07032014GulgongMPS.pdf (accessed 1 June 2016).
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