Rehab centre funding welcomed

THE Angliss Hospital, Upper Ferntree Gully, has welcomed the announcement of a $4.3 million Federal Government funding boost for rehabilitation services.
Eastern Health subacute and ambulatory director Anne Bergin said the funding would provide for the development of a new, purposebuilt Community Rehabilitation Centre (CRC) at the hospital.
She said the CRC would be located on the corner of Talaskia Road and Edward Street, Upper Ferntree Gully.
Ms Bergin said the centre would provide assessment, rehabilitation, and intervention services, as well as educational programs for adults and children.
Announcing the funding last week, La Trobe MP Jason Wood said the funding would improve services at a local level.
Mr Wood said the new centre would provide services for a variety of needs including consulting programs and activities and therapeutic services.
He said it would also include a reception area, onsite parking and a drop off area.
Ms Bergin said the CRC would be a key link between inpatient and communitybased rehabilitation.
“It is a pathway to recovery from an inpatient stay, or can prevent the need for inpatient treatment,” she said.
Ms Bergin said the centre would also provide essential access to specialist medical and clinical therapy services for patients that did not need inpatient care, but did require specialist rehabilitation services.
Opposition State health spokesperson David Davis also welcomed the funding announcement.
Mr Davis said the centre would ensure better rehabilitation care was available in Melbourne’s outer east.