Staff focus of new building

IMPROVED staff recruitment and retention will be benefits of a $2.4 million building project at Inglewood and District Health Service.

Chief executive officer Dallas Coghill said part of the existing building was being converted into staff accommodation that would be used by allied health students on placement at Inglewood.

“This will help with our future recruitment and retention of allied health staff and show the great opportunities that exist to work in health services in rural communities,” he said.

“The accommodation wing will also provide flexibility for staff who do not wish to work locally but want to work a succession of evening, afternoon and day shifts.

“Students will be able to live on site and the two projects will add greatly to the hospital precinct by creating more easily accessible facilities for the community, and enhancing learning opportunities for students of allied health disciplines.”

A gymnasium is part of the building project that will include allied health treatment rooms and a large space for rehabilitation and exercise programmes.

Mr Coghill said work on both parts of the project was scheduled to be finished in November.

“We expect to be ready to move straight in,” he said.