By JESSE GRAHAM
THE SAVE Healesville Hospital Action Group (SHHAG) will be celebrating the recent announcement of funding for the hospital’s future and pushing for maternity services in an event this Thursday in Healesville.
The group will be holding an event outside Healesville’s Community Bank on Thursday 3 October to celebrate the efforts of the group and community members, in pushing for services to return to Healesville Hospital.
A sausage sizzle will be held at the event, and photographs of the children born at the hospital since 1979 will be on display, as the event acknowledges the one-year anniversary of the maternity services closing at the hospital.
SHHAG member Fiona McAllister said that the announcement of $7.8 million for the hospital was a huge success for the community and their efforts to campaign for the hospital.
“I can’t say enough about how grateful the action group has been for the level of community support,” she said.
Eastern Health CEO Alan Lilly said the expansion of the hospital meant Yarra Ranges residents could access services closer to home and that birthing may return to Healesville in the future.
“At the moment, we’ve strengthened our antenatal and postnatal services to support people in their homes,” he said.
“If the needs of the community change and there is a demand for the birthing services we provide, there’s no obstacle to that occurring in the future.”
However, Ms McAllister said she was disappointed to see that maternity services were not on the list of services returning to the Healesville Hospital under the funding announcement.
“We recognise the antenatal and postnatal support, but women in Healesville want to have their babies in Healesville,” she said.
“The distances required to travel currently are not acceptable.”
Currently, residents will have to travel to the Box Hill hospital or the Angliss Hospital to receive birthing services.
“The majority feeling is absolute joy at what’s being offered and that the minister made the effort to come to Healesville, it’s really appreciate – but we still need to continue the conversation about birthing services.”
Executive Director of Acute Health at Eastern Health David Plunkett said the Eastern Health 2022 implementation plan will allow a birthing suite to be provided for the Healesville Hospital.
“This is to ensure there are appropriate facilities available to local woman and families when and if the demand for birthing services at the site increases, and if the appropriately skilled mix of staff becomes available to support a safe, high quality birthing experience,” he said.
The SHHAG event will be held at Healesville’s Community Bank from noon to 1pm on Thursday 3 October outside of the Healesville Community Bank at 205 Maroondah Highway, Healesville.
For a gold coin, residents can purchase blue or pink helium balloons to inscribe their children’s name on, for a mass balloon release at the event.
