By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
A MANAGING nurse from Casey Hospital’s new sub-acute care ward, officially opened last Friday, has championed the importance of the facility for the local community.
Nurse Unit manager Sarah Jenkin said the 30-bed purpose-built facility, which has a gym included, was introduced in order to provide care for patients as they recover after hospital treatment.
“The ward here provides that rehab in an environment close to home. They’re often here for three or four weeks,” Ms Jenkin said.
The $22.2 million sub-acute care ward was officially opened at the Berwick-based hospital last Friday by Health Minister David Davis, while patients have been admitted to the facility since July.
Speaking at the opening on Friday, Mr Davis said Casey Hospital is well placed to meet the demand for rehabilitation services in Melbourne’s rapidly growing and ageing outer south-east suburbs.
“The facility has a patient dining room, therapy space, allied health consultation rooms, a mobility garden to support rehabilitation and larger-than-standard bedrooms which enable therapy to be undertaken in a patient’s bedroom,” Mr Davis said.
Ms Jenkin stressed the all-important role of rehabilitation afforded by the new facility.
“A lot of patients need that further follow up to make sure they can maintain further functioning,” Ms Jenkin said.
“The environment is just beautiful for staff and patients; it’s so well built for patients in the area,” she said.
Ms Jenkin said the new ward catered for patients of all ages, and currently had people aged from 30 up to 90 staying there.
“In the sub-acute, we have a mix of patients who require rehab, orthopaedic surgery or other surgeries, they may be young or old,” she said.
“It’s often patients who have had a complicated hospital stay and they need to improve on their strength and endurance.
“This includes patients who have had strokes, neurological patients, there’s a wide range. The other patients we have are geriatric, and that means they come to us to come back home,” she said.
The $22.2 million in funding for the new ward was provided through the Commonwealth’s National Partnership Agreement, according to Mr Davis.
“Small lounge areas also provide a supportive environment where family and friends can visit,” he said.
