REDHS marks homecoming anniversary

REDHS chief executive Mary Manescu gave a speech, and was joined by Yalukang residents Heather Aubrey and Marie Negus, who returned to the centre when it was reopened, to cut a celebratory cake.

Ms Manescu said considerable effort had gone into getting the hospital back to standard following the 2022 floods.

“When I look back, you forget how many things really had to come together to make today the place that we're in,” she said.

“Now, it's looking at the future. We can actually take a deep breath ― that's how it feels.”

Ms Manescu said that with its now stable workforce, the hospital’s focus would turn to strengthening everyday operations and enacting the recently settled strategic plan.

Progress has also been made on the hospital’s flood levee project, which has been receiving expressions of interest for over a month.

“We’ve already had a few organisations come to actually have a look at the site, so it’s encouraging that we will have some good applicants to then go forward into a contract,” Ms Manescu said.

“That’s wonderful news, and it gives everyone some confidence that this organisation will be protected.”

The hospital’s outreach GP clinic is also set to move into a permanent space on site following steady demand for its services over the past 10 months.

REDHS will manage the new facility, with the current clinic an initiative of Murray PHN and Swan Hill District Health.

Overall demand for the hospital’s services has risen, and short waiting lists are beginning to form, particularly for residential facilities.

Moving forward, Ms Manescu said a pillar of the hospital would be increasing virtual access to health care, reducing the burden of travel on Rochester’s residents.

“When we can bring in allied health practitioners to work from here, they could tap into telehealth or other means to connect people in,” she said.

“As much as we can, we'll see more of that hybrid, I think, in the future. Rural health, for the future, will be hybrid.”