New Wondai Health Service now open

A $16 million redevelopment at Wondai has provided a range of improved health services for local residents, Health Minister Stephen Robertson said today.

Mr Robertson officially opened the new Wondai Health Service which includes a 46-bed nursing home, the community health centre and an industrial kitchen to supply meals to all facilities in the South Burnett area.
 
Mr Robertson said the complex featured the co-location of services including inpatient and palliative/special needs beds, emergency service, community and allied health service and aged care.

“When the nursing home is fully occupied and the kitchen in full production, more than 10 additional staff will be employed,” he said.

“The new Wondai Health Service provides inpatient hospital services plus improved access to other community and primary health services locally.

“The integrated service also provides opportunity for improved referral and coordination with private providers and non-government organisations by working in partnership with these agencies across the school, youth, and aged care sectors, to promote health and wellbeing.

“Community nurses focus on child health through baby clinics and child development programs, and on parenting support and education.

“Other programs include chronic disease management including diabetes and heart disease, falls prevention, physical activity and health promotion.

“They provide community nursing services throughout the district and also provide immunisation of children and adults in Wondai.

“The community nursing service also provides an additional one day a week to Proston, allowing the Proston nurse to run a youth health program at Proston State School and health promotion and home visits to outlying areas.”

Mr Robertson said there would also be an increase in the number of visits from the allied health team based at the Kingaroy Hospital, including physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and dietetics.

He said a new podiatry service would be based at Wondai and a private physiotherapy service would be co-located at the new facility.

“The production kitchen will start operating next month (February) and will provide cooked meals for the five public hospitals and two public nursing homes in the South Burnett area,” he said.

15 January, 2008

MEDIA: Joshua Cooney 3234 1185