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Upgrades celebrated with official openings in the Wheatbelt 07 November 2019 The hard work of our staff involved with redevelopments in the Wheatbelt has been celebrated recently with a series of official openings. The $50m redeveloped Narrogin Health Service was the first of these official openings followed by the Merredin Health Service and Mukinbudin Health Centre. The two and a half year build at Narrogin involved 220,000 construction hours bringing state-of-the-art health services to the local community. The redevelopment at Narrogin means the local community now has access to a purpose-built facility with the convenience of a range of health services under one roof. At the Merredin Health Service, the heritage façade of the Hospital, which originally opened in the 1930s, was retained as part of the $23.8 million redevelopment. The new ambulatory care building within the Merredin Health Service means that all of the health services, including pub... -
HEAL program success leads to Health Awards nomination 06 November 2019 Following its successful implementation and having made a tangible impact on the health of residents in WA’s Wheatbelt, the Healthy Eating Activity Lifestyle (HEAL™) program was nominated for a WA Health Excellence Award. Promoting preventative health and early intervention, HEAL™ facilitators work with participants over eight weeks to reduce health risk factors of hypertension, high cholesterol, high body mass index or diabetes. Having a holistic approach to health and wellbeing has had a meaningful impact on locals, who are learning how to regain control of their health with the support of a multidisciplinary health team including health promotion officers, allied health assistants, physiotherapists and dietitians. HEAL™ has successfully achieved a 76 per cent completion rate, with 96 per cent of participants maintaining long term behaviour change. Using the... -
Innovative strategy that transformed regional healthcare is award finalist 06 November 2019 The ground-breaking Southern Inland Health Initiative (SIHI), which transformed regional health care in WA’s southern inland area, was a finalist for a WA Health Excellence Award in the Overcoming Inequities category. Challenging the way traditional health services were designed, focused and delivered, SIHI changed the approach to care in regional WA, overcoming many inequities for people accessing health care services in regional communities. Introduced by the WA Country Health Service (WACHS) in 2011, the multi-pronged approach saw investment in the medical and clinical workforce, establishment of the world-renowned Emergency Teleheatlh Service (ETS), targeted primary health care services, a significant health infrastructure program and expansion of the telehealth network that set the foundation for future state-wide innovation in the delivery of health care services. The SIHI... -
Midwest’s world-first mental health project in running for top award 06 November 2019 Access, demand and working in partnership are the key drivers in a world-first reform project which is significantly improving mental health services in the Midwest. The Midwest Mental Health and Community Alcohol and Drug Service Reform Project has radically redesigned the delivery of regional mental health services with huge knock on benefits including quicker access to appropriate treatment for more patients. The impressive results were acknowledged in this year’s WA Health Excellence Awards with a finalist nomination in the Mental Health Commissioner’s Award category. The Midwest is one of the largest health regions in the world covering more than 600,000 kilometres with a population of around 68,000 people. The reform project combines a new locally developed model of care utilising the Choice and Partnership Approach; a collaborative way of working with service users... -
TeleRehab nominated for regional stroke improvements 06 November 2019 An innovative project that reduces regional patient inequities in accessing specialist stroke rehabilitation was nominated as a 2019 finalist in the WA Health Excellence Awards. The Stroke TeleRehab Project brings high quality stroke rehabilitation closer to home for Midwest patients via a telehealth link between Geraldton Hospital and the stroke rehabilitation unit at Osborne Park Hospital (OPH). Developed as a partnership program between North Metropolitan Health Service and WA Country Health Service, the project has reduced the number of Midwest patients having to travel to Perth for stroke rehabilitation, and reduced their length of stay in both Geraldton and metropolitan hospitals. Working with stroke rehabilitation clinicians at Osborne Park Hospital via telehealth alongside their local treating clinician, patients at Geraldton Hospital are able to receive specialised care for t...
Last Updated:
17/04/2026