Update: Gloucester aged care facilities

Please attribute statement to Hunter New England Health Chief Executive Dr Nigel Lyons:
As part of the November 2008 Mini-Budget, the NSW Government announced it planned to transfer the remaining state owned nursing homes to the non-government sector, while ensuring continuity of care for residents.
Aged care facilities at Gloucester are amongst those earmarked for transfer to the non-government sector. The three Gloucester facilities to be transferred are Kimbarra Lodge Hostel, Hillcrest Nursing Home, and Narraweema Ward.
Hunter New England Health remains committed to keeping the Gloucester district community informed about the transfer process.
On Tuesday 3 February, I joined key Hunter New England Health representatives to meet with Gloucester Shire Council Mayor Julie Lyford and councillors to discuss the transfer and other issues relating to the Health Service. The discussions were both positive and productive, and improving health care services on behalf of the local community was the core focus of everyone involved in the meeting.
It is HNE Health’s top priority that there will be minimum disruption to residents during any transfer process. We want to assure community members that the continuation of the existing level of care at the three Gloucester facilities is of paramount importance.
A number of other services, such as Community Health, operate on the Gloucester site. There are no plans to change these other services at this site.
Expressions of Interest (EOI) will be sought from non-government organisations to acquire Kimbarra, Hillcrest and Narraweema.
While the timing of the EOI process hasn’t been determined, decisions will be made on a facility-by-facility basis and in consultation with key stakeholders including the families of Gloucester residents and the extended local community.
Our vision would be to create a central health/aged care precinct in Gloucester. Such a precinct could enable GPs, hospital staff and aged care providers to work together as a team on the one site.
Hunter New England Health will continue to work closely with NSW Health and the management of each of the Gloucester facilities to prepare detailed plans to ensure that each resident’s accommodation needs will be met under any changed arrangements.
HNE Health will be supporting employees impacted by any change and working closely with relevant Associations. Hunter New England Health is committed to providing high-quality care and we will continue to work with Gloucester Shire Council to meet the health needs of the Gloucester community. I am confident that successful and sustainable solutions will be reached during the transfer process.
(HNE ref: 2009-43)

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Phone: (02) 4985 5522