Description
Portland District Health provides surgical and medical hospital care, primary and community care services. Located in the southwest of Victoria Portland District Health provides an integrated health service which comprises acute, primary health and aged residential care services.
Our Service provides: 24-hour, 7 days a week Urgent Care Centre,
69 registered acute inpatient beds, 2 operating theatres (1 procedural/Scope theatre), 8-bed day procedure unit,
30 residential aged care (high care) – Harbourside Lodge,
Active Health Portland - our GP superclinic,
Community Health services.
Portland District Health is accredited with the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards, the Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency Ltd and Home and Community Care National Service Standards.
PDH has an operating budget of around $37m and employs approximately 410 staff (277 EFT)
Portland’s health services are steeped in history with land set aside in April 1858 for an asylum for the benefit of the afflicted or distressed inhabitants and sojourners for the time being of and in the said Town and neighbourhood and for no other purpose whatsoever. The trustees who reserved that land were James Blair, Charles Arthur Dodd, Francis Henty, Thomas Must and Thomas Finn.
As a Benevolent Society, outdoor relief was distributed to "worthy objects" in the form of food, clothing, firewood and small sums of money. Those in need of nursing care were lodged with private families. In 1912, permission was granted to convert the institution to a district hospital and it continued to operate from the original blue stone building until 1954 when the needs of Portland and District outgrew the facilities. The bluestone buildings were demolished and replaced by a new facility.
Today, Portland District health is a public health service established under the Health Services Act 1988. Our health service was formed on 01 July 2003 through the amalgamation of the Portland and District Community Health Centre and the Portland and District Hospital.
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Thank you to all Portland District Health staff and volunteers along with many community members who have generously donated presents to our annual wishing tree appeal. Your support in this appeal is very much appreciated. These presents have been handed over to our local Salvation Army to be distributed throughout our local community. Presents are still able to be donated through this appeal until tomorrow (Friday). With thanks again from Portland District Health, Our Community, Your Health
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ROTARY DONATE NEW COFFEE MACHINE FOR LOCAL CANCER PATIENTS AND THEIR CARERS People with cancer and their carers will benefit from three different donations from the Rotary Club of Portland Beats Cycle for Hope team. The team’s fund-raising efforts resulted in 15 $100 supermarket gift card vouchers for carers of Portland District Health palliative care clients, a wheelie commode chair for the palliative care unit, and a coffee making machine for the PDH cancer support service room. PDH Palliative Care Nursing Unit Manager Jo Spurge said the donations would make life easier for people with cancer and their carers. “They are lovely donations which will make a real difference for people at a difficult time in their lives,” Ms Spurge said. The gift card vouchers will be given to carers but can be used by either carers or clients. “Caring for a loved one with cancer can be draining and it’s nice that we will be able to provide a bit of extra support through these vouchers,” Ms Spurge said. The portable commode chair will also add to the facilities available and improve convenience for clients. Cancer support nurse Brooke Kelly said people using the service loved to spend time discussing their situation. “To have a coffee machine available so we can enjoy a nice cuppa will be a great way for us to relax and get to know each other better,” Ms Kelly said. “On behalf of our clients and their carers we really appreciate the support from Beats Cycle for Hope and the Rotary Club,” she added. “This program has made many fantastic donations in recent years which all go to improving how we care for people.” Photo from Left: Brooke Kelly, Frank Farnsworth from Rotary Club & Jo Spurge
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CONSULTING SUITE X-MAS CLOSURE NOTICE: The PDH Consulting Suites will be closed from 12.30pm December 23 to 8am January 9, 2017. Wishing all our clients a very Merry Christmas.
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CHRISTMAS GREETINGS The Board of Management, Executive Management and staff at Portland District Health wish everyone in the Portland and surrounding communities a safe and healthy Christmas and happy New Year. Photos taken within PDH
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CHRISTMAS ADVICE FROM PDH For most people, Christmas is a time to enjoy family and festivities but for others it can be a difficult period. Significant dates, such as anniversaries or Christmas, can be hard for people who are lonely, depressed or missing a recently lost loved one. The Portland District Health counselling team is available for people who need some support during the tough times in their lives, and recognises that having a conversation can be the start of making a positive change. Psychologist Michelle Lesek promotes the connection between a person’s physical health and their mental health. “I believe following a healthy, balanced diet, exercising regularly and having a positive attitude to life can improve a person’s overall physical and mental wellbeing,” she said. Carers also need to give themselves some respite and take a little time out to enjoy Christmas. Finding time to do an activity you enjoy or get some physical exercise will be a big relief. Christmas can also be a time when people overindulge, with food or alcohol. PDH’s dietitian Melissa Yip says it is important to remember Christmas Day is just a day, not a week or a month. “People have a lot of food and drink for Christmas and then keep that going over the next week,” Ms Yip said. “It’s Christmas Day, not Christmas Week.” People tend to like big meals on Christmas Day and Ms Yip suggested filling plates with healthy options. You don’t have to totally eliminate treats but try to focus on healthy eating wherever possible. Ms Yip urged people to think of healthier options for Christmas presents than chocolates and biscuits. Alcohol can be a major source of excess calories over summer and also the cause of much social trouble. The PDH alcohol and other drugs team urges people to avoid excessive drinking over the holiday period. Some tips include making sure you pour your own drinks and keep an eye on them to avoid spiking, don’t consume so much that it affects your behaviour, look out for your mates and never drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
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PDH STAFF AWARDS NIGHT - 8 DECEMBER Portland District Health is proud of its commitment to being a learning organisation supporting staff to undertake training and education. A highly skilled workforce leads to high standards of quality care and service excellence for patients and clients. Each year PDH recognises the large number of staff who undertake education and training courses at various levels aligned to their key areas of work. This year about 50 staff were honoured during the annual staff awards night, which was held last Thursday. PDH also paid tribute to loyal staff who have served for up to 40 years. Education Manager Lauren Newman said PDH’s emphasis on training and education translated into safe and professional care for the community. “What we see on staff awards night is testament to the support PDH gives to staff to undertake training. That’s a star attraction in retaining our workforce,” Ms Newman said. “There’s an old saying `what happens if we train and educate staff and they leave?’ I like the answer ‘what happens if we don’t train and educate staff and they stay’?” “Our Portland community is very fortunate to have such a highly skilled health workforce.” Training being undertaken includes a Certificate II in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care, a Post Graduate Certificate in Health Informatics, a Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs and a Masters of Health and Human Services Management. Education continues across all departments within the health service. Five PDH graduate nurses and three collaborative graduates were presented with their certifications. Environmental staff were recognised for completing a Certificate III in Health Services and PDH’s middle management group completed a Leadership Development Program. Jacinta Watson and Loren Drought were recognised for 20 years of service; Alison Brian, Patricia Cain, Judith Noske, Myfanwy Maddox, Lorraine Hiscock, Jennifer Moore and Sheralee Radley for 30 years, Helen Anderson, Janice McIvor and Charlotte Murphy for 35 years and Janine Duckmanton and Leanne Stuchbery for 40 years.
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Get a chance to win an iPad mini 4, 128GB, wifi and Cellular (value $879) or Arbonne hamper ($725 value) by purchasing a raffle ticket in support of PDH Theatre Deparment to purchase equipment. Tickets available from PDH main reception or in front of Safeway tomorrow (Wednesday) Raffle will be drawn on Thursday 22nd December in time for Christmas.
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Project to Benefit Community Health and Wellbeing Wannon Water and Portland District Health (PDH) are partnering in a pilot project that will have broad benefits for community health and wellbeing. The Great Tasting Water project, launched today, aims to improve the taste of tap water at the Portland hospital and encourage people to use it as a healthy alternative to sugary drinks. PDH Chief Executive Officer Chris Giles said the project was part of a campaign to work with the community to tackle health issues such as obesity. Department of Health statistics show the rate of overweight and obese people living in the Glenelg Shire is 59 per cent – 10 per cent above the state average. In Portland, the rate of obesity has risen by 300 per cent in the past 30 years. “As the largest local healthcare provider, Portland District Health is leading by example and plans to phase out sugary drinks in our facilities,” Ms Giles said. Wannon Water’s General Manager Service Delivery, Ian Bail said the pilot project tied in with Wannon Water’s corporate vision of going “beyond water for stronger communities”. “Portland’s water is supplied from deep groundwater bores and although it is of high quality, we acknowledge there are low rates of customer satisfaction with the taste,” Mr Bail said. “We want to support the hospital in taking a leadership role on reducing community obesity by improving the taste of its drinking water supply at current pricing levels and eliminating the need for the purchase of bottled water.” The project will involve an upgrade of the hospital’s existing water filtration plant which has until now been used to supply sterilisation and disinfection processes. The normal town supply will be blended with this filtered water to produce great tasting water, encouraging more staff and patients to drink it. It is anticipated the improved water will also extend the life of the hospital infrastructure, resulting in financial savings to the hospital. Two drinking water fountains will also be installed outside the hospital allowing members of the public to “choose tap” by refilling their own water bottles when they are out exercising or walking past. The project launch included a taste test where hospital employees and patients were able to sample a variety of filtered water blends to determine what “great tasting water” meant to them. Detailed design work for the project will begin early next year with the water expected to start flowing in the hospital by June.
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Thank you to the lovely ladies from Heywood Day Branch CWA for donating hand knitted items for the babies born at Portland District Health. Thank you Diane Benbow the current President and Diane Carlile the CWA secretary for delivering these precious gifts to our maternity ward on Friday.
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Chris Giles- CEO busily delivering department Christmas Hampers throughout the hospital this morning. This is in appreciation for all the hard work and commitment from our wonderful staff to PDH and the community during the 2017 year. Wishing all PDH staff and families a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
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Congratulations to all the PDH staff on significant years of service and those who have completed, and progressed in their studies!
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WOMEN'S SERVICE CLUB DONATE TO PDH WIG BANK PDH were delighted to receive a cheque for $500 from the Women’s Service Club to sponsor the costs of a second wig cabinet we are currently building, and to go towards other costs in cancer service at PDH. Thank you to all involved at the Women's Service Club for your generosity. We are very lucky to have so many wonderful service clubs and businesses in Portland that continually show support toward our health service which in turn benefits the whole community. PHOTO: Brooke Kelly-PDH Cancer Support Nurse and Ellie Lane-Women's Service Club
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