By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
A MANAGING nurse from Casey Hospital’s new sub-acute care ward has championed the importance of the facility for the community.
Nurse Unit manager Sarah Jenkin said the 30-bed purpose-built facility, which includes a gym, was built 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 on Friday 17 October by Health Minister David Davis. Patients have been using the facility since July.
Mr Davis said Casey Hospital was 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 important role of rehabilitation.
“A lot of patients need that further follow up to make sure they can maintain further functioning,” she said.
“The environment is just beautiful for staff and patients; it’s so well built for patients in the area.”
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.”
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.
