Surplus for Neerim health

The Neerim District Health Service has recorded its strongest financial performance in more than a decade.

After a number of years that threw up concerns about the facility’s future, treasurer Robert Southgate reported to the annual meeting that 20142015 was a total surplus of $377,000, a figure that included a yet to be spent Department of Health grant of $96,000 for office extensions.

Two of the health service’s three areas of operation returned surpluses.

Aged care achieved its first ever surplus of $107,000 and the theatre netted $733,000.

Those results more than offset a loss of $558,000 in acute care services.

Board of management president Geoff Neil said the profit resulted from a number of hard decisions taken by the board, management and staff but provided only a small buffer given the level of expenditure for the year.

He said the turnaround in the NDHS performance had enabled the board to apply with greater confidence for a grant for additional aged care facilities including accommodation for 12 extra clients, a dementia specific wing and refurbishment of the old section of the aged care premises.

The outcome of the application should be known by the end of the year, Mr Neil said.

Chief executive officer and director of nursing Jacqui Brown also commented on the many contributions, including from volunteers, that helped achieve the result.

She said the service had also successfully achieved all 44 outcomes in the Aged Care Quality Agency assessment.

Seventeen staff were recognised at the annual meeting with the presentation of service awards.

Elke Lissenden received a 30 years’ service award and Elizabeth Reid, Gay Scott, Bernadette Notman and Sally Sewell 15-year awards.

Ten-year awards were made to Geraldine Notman, Jacqueline Brown, Lainie Silver and Sharyn Norris.

Mary Davis, Teresa Buckley, Maria Kelly, Ann Ramage, Elizabeth Mapleson, Julie-Anne Gourley, Elaine Payne and Mary Raudam were recognised for five years of service.