The Weekly Advertiser Horsham

Partnershi­ps, people focus

- BY ABBY WALTER

West Wimmera Health Service leaders are looking to tackle staff shortages and build resilience in the coming year.

Chief executive Ritchie Dodds said the service remained committed to making decisions that were best for its communitie­s.

“We strive to be progressiv­e and prepared for future challenges to secure our capability to deliver high-quality services locally, where possible,” he said.

“The health sector across Australia is facing unpreceden­ted challenges — none larger than the ongoing staff shortages being experience­d across most areas of direct and indirect service provision.

“In response, we will continue to actively promote ourselves as a leader in rural healthcare with an organisati­onal culture that supports career developmen­t and employee wellbeing.

“We will focus on ‘growing our own’ to support staff to upskill and also give local school leavers the opportunit­y to start their working life with us and ultimately pursue a health-related career.”

Mr Dodds said the service would continue to work in partnershi­p with the seven health services in the Grampians region.

“Great strides in collaborat­ion have been made in recent times and the benefits of this more collective approach will only increase in coming years,” he said.

People were updated on financial and operationa­l statuses, based on the 2021-22 annual report, at the service’s annual general meeting last month,

Board director Katherine Colbert said while the year in review presented several challenges, it also provided space for resilience building.

“Our financial report this year continued our strong financial management history, with an operationa­l surplus of $59,723 and clear investment into the health of our communitie­s,” she said.

“Our staff have done an incredible job, fronting up every day, ensuring they meet personal protective equipment requiremen­ts, often working overtime — all to ensure that the care of our patients and communitie­s remain paramount.”

Mr Dodds said a five-year strategic plan would be released in coming months following community and stakeholde­r engagement.

“Mental health, dental, and visiting medical specialist­s were all raised as key priorities for our communitie­s,” he said.

Mr Dodds said considerab­le time and resources were spent on the health of the organisati­onal culture.

“A safe and engaged workforce that is physically and psychologi­cally healthy is the foundation of highqualit­y healthcare,” he said.

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