Health service leaders heard the case for dialysis in Cobram in a recent meeting with State Member for Ovens Valley Tim McCurdy.
Mr McCurdy said he had a “positive” discussion with NCN Health CEO Mark Ashcroft and Board Chair Tricia Quibell over the need for a dialysis unit at the Cobram Hospital.
Mr McCurdy said the CEO affirmed the organisation’s support for dialysis at the Cobram Hospital.
“It’s good to know the current CEO is as keen as the former CEO [Jacque Phillips],” Mr McCurdy said.
“The role of the health service is to look after the needs of the community, and in Cobram the community have made it clear that one of those needs is a dialysis facility.”
McCurdy added that Mr Ashcroft has made an application for funding to install a dialysis unit at the Cobram Hospital.
Should the application be unsuccessful, Mr McCurdy said the CEO provided assurance that the organisation would pursue alternatives to a dialysis unit instead.
In a statement from June last year, NCN Health interim Chief Executive Officer Justin Sullivan said the health service would like to repurpose Cobram Hospital’s former theatre space, which closed that month, with alternative services that could add value to the community.
“Based on the region’s health service plan, the changing health needs of the local community and the existing theatre building, NCN Health is exploring other services for Cobram, such as same-day cancer services or dialysis,” he said.
“We are working with the Department of Health, GV Health and the Hume Health Service Partnership to investigate what is most feasible and beneficial for the local community.”
NCN Health has been contacted for comment.