As far back as 1944, the people of Ballan recognised an acute need for a local hospital,so they set about raising the funds.
They wanted it to be a memorial hospital, one that would honour their war dead … but it took 22 years before they finally opened the doors of Ballan & District Soldiers’ Memorial Bush Nursing Hospital in 1966.
Now known as Ballan District Health & Care (BDHC), the community-owned registered charity, governed by a skills-based board, encompasses aged care, primary healthcare and hospital services, as well as community wellbeing services and childcare.
Acting Chief Executive Officer Nigel Jarvis says that the health service’s founders began with a focus on providing close-to-home care and that focus continues to be BDHC’s most important mission.
“The importance of high quality, integrated localised care guides our contemporary healthcare service,” Mr Jarvis says.
“With the construction of the GP SuperClinic in 2009 and the addition of the Primary Care Centre in 2014, the range of services available to the community is quite extraordinary.
“Today, Ballan District Health & Care’s facilities include a rehabilitation gymnasium, a hydrotherapy pool and a GP and allied healthcare clinic in addition to its aged care, hospital and childcare facilities.”
BDHC’s team of 176 employees and 85 mostly local volunteers responds to local needs.
“Our volunteers supplement and underpin our diverse services, donating their time and skills. It’s a case of clinical excellence combined with small-town warmth and kindness,” Mr Jarvis says.
“It’s not uncommon for us to care for a family’s newborn in our GP clinic, provide childcare for its older siblings at Ballan Childcare Centre, and offer support for its ageing grandparents through our residential and in-home aged care services, or our hospital and palliative care services.”
The GP Clinic has female and male GPs, practice nurses and allied healthcare professionals. Physiotherapy, exercise physiology, occupational therapy, podiatry, psychology, dental services (including orthodontistry), a dietitian, community assistance, district and chronic disease nursing, audiology and optometry are all represented – among others. An in-house Xray facility and pathology services are also among the extensive services offered.
Mr Jarvis says that, with Ballan’s population on the increase, he expects to host a greater number of visiting specialists in the next five years, expand the residential care facility, offer day procedures in a new facility and double the number of childcare places provided.
Ballan District Health & Care, 33 Cowie Street, Ballan. GP Clinic opens 8.30am-8.30pm Monday-Friday; 9am-1pm Saturday; and after-hours on-call. Inquiries: 5366 7999
