News
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Echuca Regional Health (ERH) is located on the Murray River within the Campaspe Shire at the township of Echuca, where the population is in excess of 12,000 residents.
The Hospital provides services to a wider geographic area, which encompasses 55,000 residents covering Southern New South Wales to Central Victoria. The population swells seasonally due to the 1.6 million visitors that thrive on its vibrant tourism and gaming industry.
Annually, it provides medical services to:
ERH employs over 500 full and part-time staff, making it the largest employer for the region.The ED and the wards form the main section of the health service, and still operate in the original buildings, which were built in the 1910s.
The Health Service has three acute wards, Rose Baker Maternity Wing, Johnson Surgical Wing and the Camray Medical Wing. In total, there are 67 acute beds, which comprise 49 multi day stay beds (incorporating a 3-bed high dependency unit), and 18 same day stay beds/chairs with eight trolleys in the ED. The ED was extended in 2005 to cater for the increasing demand of presentations.
The ED, led by Nurse Unit Manager Craig Frew and Dr. Nakedi Keetse employs 16.8 EFT in addition to casuals as required. During the summer months, when the tourist population swells, the department responds to an increase in presentations with extra resources allocated to meet the demand.
On 29 August this year, the ED held a dedication ceremony to recognise the commitment from the local Blue Ribbon Foundation Branch. The ED has been renamed the ‘George Henry Taylor Emergency Department’ in memory of a police officer who was killed in the line of duty at Pyramid Hill.
The Blue Ribbon Foundation has purchased a new Oxylog 3000 portable ventilator to replace the old Oxylog 2000; and will continue to provide financial support to the Emergency Department in the coming years.
Photo 1: The Dedication Ceremony – (L to R) ERH President Di Macfarlane, Chief Commissioner Christine Nixon, granddaughters of Constable George Henry Taylor Ann Badger and Jenny Ruane, and Blue Ribbon Foundation Echuca Branch President Leading Senior Constable Allan Pankhurst
Photo 2: Murray to Moyne Sponsor recognition tour, the Murray to Moyne Fundraising Effort at ERH raised over $50k in April 2008, enabling the installation of a pneumatic tube between the Emergency Department and Pathology. Pictured far right is ERH Emergency Department Nurse unit Manager Craig Frew.