Hospital Board Impressed With Burdekin Health Services

Future improvements for the Ayr and Home Hill Health Services were put under spotlight last week as members of the Townsville Hospital and Health Board met with locals on Thursday, December 14.

Townsville Hospital and Health Board Chair Tony Mooney and fellow Board member Debra Burden visited Ayr Health Service where they liaised with staff and community to get an understanding of the local issues and assist in future planning.

“I’ve had overwhelming feedback from the community, from consumers, members of the CAN (Community Advisory Network), the mayor and staff; the health service here in Ayr is in good hands,” Mr Mooney said.

“The level of complaints are very, very low, and the standard of care is very, very high.

“The staff here are humming in terms of the service delivery and that’s the message I’m going to be taking back to the Chief Executive and to my board.”

Mr Mooney and Ms Burden also met with the Burdekin CAN where the key priority was the need for a public CT Scanner in the Burdekin.

“I have previously worked with the communities of Charters Towers and Ingham which successfully lobbied the Department of Health and the Government for CT scanners to be funded in those respective communities,” Mr Mooney said.

“I’m now working with the CAN here in the Burdekin to lend whatever support I can to help them in their push for a CT scanner.”

On top of the campaign for a public CT scanner in the Burdekin, Mr Mooney said there are discussions and plans in place for further improvements across the health services including the emergency department, community health, mental health and aged care services.

“It was really pleasing to see the level of positive feedback that I received; that doesn’t mean that we can’t do better,” he said.

Mr Mooney confirmed immediate improvements are in the works for Ayr Health Service, including an increase in staff positions and structural changes to the buildings to improve patient flow.

Meanwhile, Home Hill is subject to consideration for possible refurbishment or rebuild.

“As we look at the strategic expansion here in Ayr and upgrades at Home Hill, there’ll be other challenges coming forward in the future and I’m really excited about the opportunities for new services and improved infrastructure for this community,” Mr Mooney said.

Ayr Health Service Director of Nursing and Facility Manager Tracey Gabiola thanked the Board members for their visit and support.

“I also want to thank the whole of the Burdekin community because I can appreciate the fact that they’re all so supportive,” she added.

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L-R Townsville Hospital and Health Service Board Member Debra Burden, Burdekin CAN Chair Kaylee Boccalatte Townsville Hospital and Health Service Board Chair Tony Mooney, Burdekin Shire Council Mayor Lyn McLaughlin, Ayr Health Service Director of Nursing and Facility Manager Tracey Gabiola

L-R Burdekin CAN Member Rosemarie McLean, Ms Burden, Mr Mooney, Ms Boccalatte, Ms Gabiola, Burdekin CAN Member Joanne Barbagallo, Ms McLaughlin and Burdekin CAN Secretariat Ana Mooney