Public statement

Gerard Jose

CEO, Bendigo Community Health Services

 

Bendigo Community Health Services is making some changes around our Elmore site and programs.

The organisation has completed a 'COVID normal' review of all services and programs with a priority on staff and client safety.

Of immediate impact is that the floor space of the Christine Cummins Centre is no longer suitable for our Elmore Social Support Group, especially given plans to expand the group in 2021 by attracting more members.

Thankfully, we have access to the Elmore Community Hub to continue running the Elmore Social Support Group in line with all Department of Health and Human Services COVID protocols.

This is great news for our participants who are very keen to get back together and enjoy all the benefits of the Elmore Social Support Group. 

The Elmore Community Hub is wonderful community facility that our consumers will enjoy. 

We are talking to our Social Support Group participants about the venue change and so far the response has been really positive.

Our staff will use the Christine Cummins Centre for office space, storage and car parking.

The Walking Group and Physical Activity Programs are being reviewed as part of the COVID normal roadmap. We expect these services to return to Elmore in the new year but the format is still being reviewed.

Our Podiatry team is currently reviewing outreach services with consideration to the broader range of options available to clients in Elmore and Strathfieldsaye. Our clients will be advised shortly of what will be available.

To ensure services remain sustainable into the future, St Anthony Family Medical Practice has been advised the partnership agreement with BCHS will cease at the end of this term.

Under the agreement Bendigo Community Health Services provided a financial contribution to the shared reception, as well as information and technology and site management support to St Anthony.

Given service changes, BCHS needs to focus those service-related resources back to our own programs to ensure longer term sustainability.

We continue to subsidise St Anthony as a tenant of our Elmore facility and have no current plans to change the lease agreement.

 

Last updated: December 8, 2020