Director of anaesthesia Angela Dawson with Health Minister David Davis yesterday.
NEW medical equipment will be installed in several of the region’s hospitals after Health Minister David Davis signed off on nearly $1 million of funding.
Mr Davis visited the Warrnambool Base Hospital yesterday to make the announcement, indicating that South West Healthcare (SWH) would receive more than $484,000 to purchase replacement equipment.
SWH’s Camperdown hospital will gain a laparoscopic camera system for day surgery while Warrnambool Base will receive monitoring systems in the patient recovery and mental health areas.
“This funding will allow health services to buy the newest diagnostic and interventional medical equipment for surgical and medical procedures,” the health minister said.
“The new laparoscopic camera system for Camperdown will ensure surgeons can complete the procedures in the most effective manner which will aid patient care.”
Regional Cities Minister Denis Napthine said the new equipment was part of an overall strategy to improve health services in all of the region’s hospitals.
Meanwhile, Portland District Health gained $232,000 to replace an instrument washer, a colonscope and six ECG machines; Colac Area Health picked up $29,000 to replace an infant warmer in maternity as well as Terang and Mortlake Health Services, which secured $75,000 for an anaesthetic machine.
Other south-west hospitals were beneficiaries, including Timboon and District Health Service, which gained $87,000 for an anaesthetic machine and monitor, while Hamilton’s Western District Health Service picked up $56,000 to replace a steris system.