A Healthier Future Today: Bundaberg Hospital - Queensland Health

Bundaberg Hospital
AHealthier Future Today
Caring SPIRIT
LikeBundaberg Base Hospital,Bundaberg Regional
Council cares for our community.
Call into our new Community Services Branch inthe
Civic Arcade,Bourbong Street (oppositeCouncil’s Main
Administration Building) formanyCouncil Services:
• Community, Youth &Cultural Development
• Venuesand facilities bookings
• Sportand Recreation
• Event Management
Finding community groups and
support agencies can also be done
in the comfort of your own home,
with the online Community Directory,
launched by Bundaberg Regional Council
in conjunction with Bundaberg Community
Development Inc (BCD). The new Online Directory
lists the vast majority of community groups, support
agencies and sport and recreation groups
in the Bundaberg Region, as well as
newsletters, aWelcome Kit for new
Residents and information on
Learning Opportunities.
Check it out soon at:
www.bundyregionconnect.qld.gov.au
DISCOVER OUR SPIRIT
with Bundaberg Regional Council.
STAY
Our babies in good hands
More birthing units, special care nursery
cots available as result of expansion
AS PART of the Bundaberg Hospital
expansion, Queensland Health delivers
safer and increased maternity services
to Bundaberg residents.
The new maternity unit means more
birthing suites and special care nursery
cots are available than ever before.
Birthing suites have increased from
three to four and thereare now an additional
four special carenursery cots,
bringing the total to eight.
The new maternity unit also has improved
access to operating theatres
in the adjacent building for emergency
birthing procedures.
This upgraded facility means Bundaberg
Hospital’s highly skilled and
caring maternity staff can help bring
new life into this world in astate-ofthe-art
health care facility.
On average, thereare around three
births per day at the Bundaberg Family
Unit, which equals around 1100
births per year.
Bundaberg Hospital Family Unit
manager Ann Robinson said that babies
come according to their own
schedule although births at the unit
were evenly spread throughout the
year. “For those little ones that arrive
early, wehave specially trained staff
and equipment in our new special
carenursery for those babies needing
that extra touch of medical care,” Ms
Robinson said.
“We provide mums and mums-tobe
with exceptional care before, during
and after the birth of their child.
“Our highly skilled doctors and midwives
provide arange of obstetric, gynaecological,
paediatrics, antenatal
services and aspecial care nursery.
“As part of Queensland Health’s
post-natal care program, about 70%
of new Bundaberg mums have also
received ahome visit from amidwife
within five days of leaving hospital.
“This helps new mums by providing
them with post-natal care, breastfeeding
tips, settling techniques and
immunisation advice, all in the comfort
of their own home. We also provide a
drop in centre
“Bundaberg Hospital is also working
towards gaining accreditation with
the World Health Organisation for being
‘baby friendly’ in recognition of its
commitment to breastfeeding.
“We are committed to growing our
own workforce and have established
the unit as akey training facility for
midwives and currently provide training
to four student midwives per year.
“We have also employed amidwifery
educator and aclinical facilitator to
Dental call centre will
improve access to help
RESIDENTS in Bundaberg and surrounding
areas needing emergency dental treatment
now have amore effective way of accessing
emergency treatment at the Bundaberg Oral
Health Service.
Patients areable to phone an oral health call
centre on1300 300 850, between 7.30am
and 4pm weekdays to:
Make appointments for dental
emergencies;
Inquire about access to public dental care;
And inquire about waiting lists for dental
treatment, including dentures.
Wide Bay Health Service District Oral Health
Services manager Vince Fitzpatrick said that
the new call centre was aconvenient way of
making appointments for dental emergencies.
“In the past, patients needing emergency
treatment would call aBundaberg Hospital
telephone number,which did not always cater
well to the level of demand sometimes
experienced,” Mr Fitzpatrick said.
“We have listened to client feedback in
regards to emergency procedures and feel
this will considerably improve their ability to
access services.
“Experienced oral health staff will answer
patient calls, ask them some questions about
their condition and provide an appointment
depending on the severity of their symptoms.
“Patients can also use the call centre to
inquire about waiting lists and how to access
free public dental care.”
The call centre will improve the Bundaberg
Oral Health Service’s ability to meet the oral
health needs of the community,and has in the
past 12 months provided treatment to around
12,000 patients.
provide exceptional training.
“Our community can be proud and
confident that Bundaberg’s babies
are ingood hands.”
‘‘ Our highly skilled
doctors and
midwives provide a
range of obstetric,
gynaecological,
paediatrics,
antenatal services
and aspecial care
nursery
Page 9