West Baw Baw Strategic Services Plan - 2016 Planning our future healthcare services

COOINDA LODGE AGED CARE RESIDENCE West Gippsland Healthcare Group

WEST GIPPSLAND WEST GIPPSLAND RAWSON COMMUNITY HEALTHCARE GROUP HEALTHCARE GROUP HEALTH CENTRE

Caring for our Community Caring for our Community West Gippsland Healthcare Group

WEST GIPPSLAND HEALTHCARE GROUP RAWSON COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTRE WEST GIPPSLAND HEALTHCARE GROUP RESIDENTIAL AGED CARE SERVICES Caring for our Community WEST GIPPSLAND HEALTHCARE GROUP RAWSON COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTRE

WEST GIPPSLAND HEALTHCARE GROUP

WEST GIPPSLAND HEALT HCARE GROUP WEST GIPPSLAND HEALTHCARE GROUP RESIDENTIAL AGED CARE

Caring for our Community Foreword

The West Gippsland Baw Baw Shire Strategic Growth and demand Outlook Service Plan was undertaken during 2015-16. The purpose of the Service Plan is to provide a Baw Baw Shire is one of the fastest growing rural The Service Plan provides confirmation that WGHG blue print for the future development of healthcare municipalities. Population growth is occurring is the principal health provider for the Baw Baw services to meet the changing and growing needs at a rate of approximately 3.2% per annum, catchment now and into the future. It reinforces of the Baw Baw Shire over the next five years and which means an increase in population of 64% that WGHG is and should remain a sub-regional into the medium and long term. to 2031-32, with the largest proportion of growth hospital that provides the range, complexity and in and Drouin. Hospital services and diversity of services such a hospital would be The Board, Chief Executive Officer and the infrastructure requirements will need to take into expected to deliver to its community. This will executive team of the West Gippsland Healthcare account this significant growth in the short to require growth of some services, introduction of Group (WGHG) have played an integral role in medium term. new services and significant expansion of capacity. the development of this Service Plan as the West Gippsland Hospital is the main health provider in This plan provides an evidence base that confirms the Baw Baw Shire. However, the formation of this the demand issues up to 2031-32. It will assist plan has been a partnership approach. the health service and government to prioritise service improvements in the short, medium and A wide range of stakeholders were consulted long term and provide a framework for how health including key healthcare providers in the Baw Baw Jane Leslie services are delivered in partnership with other Board Chair Shire, Gippsland and outer eastern metropolitan health providers to meet the extra demands. The . Latrobe Regional Hospital (LRH) population projections assist in developing future in Traralgon and the Casey Hospital campus of expansion opportunities. Monash Health in Berwick also provide important health care services to residents of the Shire. Representatives from both hospitals and the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) were involved in the development of this plan.

2 In summary, this Service Plan tells us that the critical areas to focus on are:

• improved patient safety and clinical governance

• ongoing investment in staff and increased workforce capacity

• stronger and more effective partnerships with other health services to ensure a range of quality services are delivered closer to where we live

• smarter use of information technology to empower patients to take greater responsibility for their health in partnership with their healthcare providers

• working with government to improve existing infrastructure to achieve immediate and short term benefits while developing a longer term solution.

3 Locality

The West Gippsland region is defined by the southwest growth corridor from Melbourne along Casey the .

Casey Hospital in Berwick is located approximately 60km to the west and Latrobe Regional Hospital West (LRH) in Traralgon is approximately 55km to Gippsland the east. Both Casey Hospital and LRH are undergoing major capital expansion programs, which will see a significant growth in capacity and H range of services available to support WGHG.

WGHG’s primary catchment is the Baw Baw Shire local government area (LGA) covering 4,035 square kilometers that includes Warragul, Drouin, Yarragon, , Trafalgar and Rawson. Latrobe The extended catchment includes other areas of Regional Gippsland and patients from Cardinia and Casey.

West Gippsland Hospital is located 60km east of Casey Hospital in Berwick and 55km west of Latrobe Regional Hospital in Traralgon.

4 Key challenges This Service Plan helps to better understand how, into the future, the residents of the Baw Baw Shire can have their healthcare needs best met closest to where they live. Population growth Community expectations

Baw Baw Shire is the second fastest growing non- As community expectations grow, patients and metropolitan local government area (LGA), with carers will be more actively involved in decisions nearly twice the state average growth projected about their current and future health care needs throughout the forecast period. The population is and treatment (a patient centred approach). projected to grow from 48,000 to 71,000 between This will include higher expectations for safe 2016 and 2031, with growth predicted in every age and quality care at a local level, including more group. H specialist services being available in West Gippsland. 71,000 Efficient and safe local contemporary services will continue to improve and partnerships with other services in the Baw Baw Shire will help 48,000 meet community demand for more specialist requirements such as cancer treatment.

Workforce

0 Attracting, recruiting and retaining a highly skilled skilled workforce members at all levels. This 2016 2031 workforce and specialist consultants will lead to includes providing flexible workforce options continuing levels of quality care at WGHG. to make WGHG a health service Projected population growth of 23,000 employer of choice. Improved safety and quality care will be assisted residents over the next 15 years by providing continuous investment in the skills of local staff and by the recruitment of new and

5 Positioning ourselves for the future

What services does WGHG provide now? What services will WGHG provide in the future? West Gippsland Healthcare Group provides safe and appropriate care to local residents of West Short Stay Unit in the emergency department Gippsland and surrounding areas and reduces the Access and waiting times in the emergency need to travel to Melbourne or Traralgon. department will continue to improve with greater A range of acute services are offered such as capacity. The introduction of a new short stay unit general medicine, general surgery, orthopaedics, will improve care for patients who need monitoring urology, obstetrics, gynaecology and paediatrics. for longer periods without admission into hospital. Other services include sub-acute, residential aged Surgical services care and community and home based programs in Warragul with community based hubs in Drouin, Surgical services will be strengthened and provide Rawson and Trafalgar. increased capacity in sub specialties such as ear, nose and throat, ophthalmology, orthopedics, WGHG also provides community based programs urology and gynaecology. including Residential in Reach, home based Transition Care Packages and the Community Maternity and neonatal services Rehabilitation Centre that play important roles in minimising and avoiding hospital stay. Maternity and neonatal services will continue to be provided locally to the residents of Baw Baw Shire. The demand for these services will continue to grow as the population increases.

Sub-acute services

The expansion of sub-acute services will include the introduction of rehabilitation for orthopaedic and stroke patients.

6 Where to from here?

Primary care and community health services Aged care services This Strategic Services Plan captures what we know about the current and future health care Primary care and community health services Our Well Ageing Program will continue to grow as services in the Baw Baw Shire in 2016. This will continue to improve access and specialist our elderly population increases. We will provide plan will be updated as demand continues to ‘outpatient’ clinics and other health programs rapid assessment and treatment services for elderly change. It provides WGHG with a blue print for to address chronic disease in the community. patients with complex needs whilst in hospital and the future development of healthcare services Improved partnerships with other local primary and appropriate support in the home. We will continue to meet the changing needs of communities community health services will ensure a greater to deliver contemporary residential aged care within the Baw Baw Shire for the next five range of service options at a local level. services as required by the community. years. It also tells us what to expect in terms of population growth and health care demands from all age groups up to 2031.

The Government has committed $1 million investment to undertake both service and capital planning for WGHG. Consultants to undertake this work have been engaged and they will report back in early 2017.

The WGHG Board looks forward to continuing to meet the health needs of its community in the short term while planning more sustainable solutions for the future.

7 West Gippsland Healthcare Group 41 Landsborough Street Warragul Vic 3820 P (03) 5623 0611 www.wghg.com.au