KERANG District Health is ready to embark on a period of exciting change during the coming year.
This was a key message from its annual general meeting, held on Wednesday night at the health service's boardroom.
A key highlight of the night was the proposed plans for the redevelopment of the district's major acute health care facility.
More than 20 people, including Gannawarra Mayor Max Fehring, Cr Lui Basile, hospital staff and citizens attended.
Board treasurer Simon Hall presented the financial report for the last financial year and said the hospital's performance was "satisfactory".
The service, which incorporates the hospital, Glenarm nursing home, district nursing, the W.D Thomas Day Care Centre and Gannawarra Neighbourhood House, recorded a debt after depreciation of $217,542 during the last financial year, compared with last year's surplus of $137,000.
Mr Hall said every year the hospital has unforseen expenses that are not included in the budget.
This includes $84,000 which was spent on the Glenarm nursing home to resolve a non-compliance issue.
A further $25,000 was spent on consultancy for the proposed independent living units located at Nancarrow Park, which is classified as Crown land.
To date the hospital has spent $80,000 on the project, covering consultancy, soil tests and concept plans.
"Every year we do have things we don't budget for; we do have unforseen expenses so we do cope in those situations," Mr Hall said.
On the positive the hospital's private in-patients income was up by $148,000 in the last 12 months.
Mr Hall said this is a great way for the community to support the hospital.
He also spoke about the hospital's involvement with the Kerang Medical Clinic.
Mr Hall said private health care was the number one reason for going into business with the clinic, but as a side issue it was a way to make alternative revenue for the organisation.
"As many of you know the bulk of our money comes from the government but we're always looking at ways to try and make additional funding,” he said.
"We'd like to think that our future in the Kerang Medical Clinic can contribute to that and the future re-development work (of the hospital).”
Mr Hall said the same can be said for the proposed Nancarrow Park project.
The annual report was presented by board president Gerard Hastie and highlighted the funding for the hospital's capital master plan, staff accreditation and donations.
In May, the State Government allocated Kerang District Health $17.85 million from its budget to fund stage one of the capital redevelopment of the Burgoyne Street facility.
A week later the Federal Government, as part of Health and Hospitals Fund, allocated the organisation a further $18.393 million for stage two of the redevelopment.
Mr Hastie described it as a "terrific win" for the service, Kerang and the shire as a whole.
* For full report see November 11’s issue of The Northern Times
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