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HOW ARE WE IMPROVING HEALTHCARE EXPERIENCES? Better car parking for parents In 2016-17, Barwon Health seized an opportunity to build more carparks when a new helipad was built on the roof top of University Hospital Geelong, freeing up the land previously occupied by the old helipad. More staff utilising this new carpark also freed up spaces for patients and visitors in the multi-storey carpark on Bellerine Street. Difficultly accessing parking for parents of children requiring hospitalisation was a consistent theme within feedback, so the increased availability of car parking through the helipad conversion provided an opportunity to improve access and contribute to the consumer’s satisfaction and experience of Barwon Health’s services. Hospital visiting hours were also extended in 2016 with one of the aims being to decrease parking congestion at peak times.
New unit makes Emergency Department child-friendly Feedback from families accessing the Emergency Department at University Hospital Geelong with their children highlighted that some felt unsafe or scared while waiting to be seen. After in-depth consultation and planning, a Paediatric Short Stay Unit opened in April 2017 with a dedicated space closed off from the main Emergency Department and adult patients. The unit features four beds and three adjacent paediatric cubicles and means all paediatric admissions can be streamed into one area, and away from adult patients requiring emergency care.
The unit is staffed by paediatric medical and nursing staff and provides a child-friendly and nonthreatening environment to treat young people. Feedback from parents who have experienced the Paediatric Short Stay Unit with their children has been positive. Pictured: Two-year-old Ella Giuliano pictured with brother Luca was one of the first patients to use the Paediatric Short Stay Unit.
2016-17 VICTORIAN QUALITY ACCOUNT 21