Published on 20 January 2023
Dear colleagues,
You may already be aware of today’s announcement by Corrections Minister Enver Erdogan that Western Health will provide primary care at the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre (DPFC), in Ravenhall, west of Melbourne, from 1 July 2023.
Western Health will provide this in-reach primary care service in collaboration with the Department of Justice and Community Safety and the Department of Health. Our Chronic and Complex Care Division will be operationally responsible for this service and will partner with other Western Health clinical programs and primary care providers to deliver this service.
Clinical services at DPFC will be led and provided by a multidisciplinary team established by Western Health, incorporating care coordinators within core clinical teams. Primary care to be offered at DPFC will include a 24-hour nursing service, on-call medical service, and integrated care planning. There will also be a focus on preventive healthcare, such as immunisation and mammogram services. People requiring emergency care will be taken by ambulance to the nearest emergency department, as is current practice.
An important component of our planning is a comprehensive program for staff onboarding, ongoing education, training and professional development, as well as clear clinical processes and operating frameworks.
I look forward to keeping you updated over the coming months on the implementation of this new service for a vulnerable group in our community.
Regards,
John Ferraro
Chief Operating Officer