Acute
Acute refers to our main wards, the Emergency Department, Intensive Care Unit, Theatre, Oxley and Yandilla. These are the places where people with serious health issues are treated and stay.
All of these areas have a different focus.
To learn more about each area click on the links below:
The Emergency Department of the Wimmera Health Care Group is available for emergencies arising from accident or illness. Services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It is the only emergency department between Ballarat and the South Australian border. The ward has nine treatment bays plus a resuscitation room. There are highly trained staff manning the department every day of the year. If your matter is not an emergency please consider booking an appointment with your general practitioner before attending the Emergency Department.
ICU is a five bed unit providing a 24 hour emergency service.
We look after intensive care patients who are critically unwell, coronary care patients (5 cardiac monitors), complex medical and surgical patients, unwell infants and children, and those who require close observation –self harm tendencies or high falls risk due to dementia.
Operating Suite/ Pre-Admissions Clinic
The Operating Suite has two operating rooms, one procedure room, a Post-Anaesthetic Care Unit (PACU), a Central Sterilising and Supply Unit (CSSD), and an eight bed Day Procedure Unit (DPU).
The Day Procedure Unit takes surgical inpatients Monday to Friday. The majority of admissions are for elective adult patients, with some emergency and same day medical admissions. Most day case infusions are also done in this department.
Elective surgery is scheduled Monday to Friday and currently there are between three and four allocated sessions per day. Emergency surgery is provided 24 hours a day, 7 days per week. A full range of surgical services are available including the specialties of obstetrics, gynaecology, orthopaedics, ophthalmology, urology, ENT, endoscopy and dental.
The Pre-admission Clinic service provides a collaborative approach to the planning and co-ordination of elective surgical admissions. Patients undergo a nursing and medical assessment to determine the patient’s fitness for the planned procedure. Discharge planning is also done during the pre-admission process. The patient and their carer are the main focus during this process and are provided with appropriate information, education and support.
Oxley
Oxley is the general acute ward at Wimmera Health Care Group with 29 beds. It is connected to ICU, Day Oncology, Hospital in the Home and the Discharge Lounge.
It is the largest ward and operates 24 hours a day 365 days a year. Most admissions come through the Operating Suite and Emergency Department, with some general physician reviews.
Yandilla
Yandilla is the children’s and maternity ward consisting of sixteen beds, two birth rooms and a three bed special care nursery.
Additional obstetric services housed in Yandilla include the antenatal and domiciliary clinics and a Breast Feeding Support Consultant.
Wimmera Health Care Group is committed to ensuring patients feel as comfortable as possible throughout their stay in hospital. We welcome parents or carers of children who are inpatients to say and participate with the child’s care to alleviate any fears they may have.
Maternity visiting hours are a little stricter as we encourage no visits in the morning except for fathers and significant others, to allow for bonding and education. Rest period is between 12.30pm and 2pm.
Sub-Acute
The Wyuna Sub-Acute rehabilitation unit was officially opened in December 2014. The facility increases the ability for Wimmera Health Care Group to transition patients from a hospital stay and return to the community/their home.
Wyuna is a 20 bed unit with 10 Geriatric Evaluation and Management (GEM) beds, 6 Rehabilitation (REH) beds and 4 Transition Care Program (TCP) beds. There are 16 single and 2 double rooms each with its own ceiling hoist, which travels through to its own bathroom. There are 2 Small lounge rooms, a large gym with mobility garden and therapy garden box, 2 small family meeting rooms, a large conference room and several offices for our allied health staff.
GEM beds are for patients aged 65 years or over with goals they are able to achieve in a specified time frame. It is considered slow stream with 2-3 therapy sessions per day. GEM patients have complex or chronic conditions impacting on their ability to maintain function and mobility. Their conditions are monitored and reviewed by a Geriatrician and multidisciplinary team who work to enable the patient to be sufficiently independent to return home with modifications and appropriate services.
REH patients have loss of function or ability from any cause. They are considered faster stream as the program is proactive, goal orientated and on a time limited plan of care with the aim to improve/prevent deterioration of function and to achieve highest possible level of independence.
TCP patients are admitted following a period of hospitalisation and can only commence after approval from Aged Care Assessment Services (ACAS). It’s an extra term of care that seeks to optimise functioning and independence of the older client. The program is goal orientated, time limited and therapy focused.
Wyuna Patient Information Brochure