VIC: Roxon to meet Warley hospital board today

AAP General News (Australia)
12-14-2007
VIC: Roxon to meet Warley hospital board today

MELBOURNE, Dec 14 AAP - Phillip Island residents' hopes of saving their local hospital
are pinned on a meeting today between federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon and hospital
chiefs.

Warley Hospital, a rural private hospital in Cowes, south-east of Melbourne, is set
to close its 13-bed acute care centre on January 31 because it does not have enough funds
to continue operating.

Health bodies have called on the state and federal governments to assist the hospital,
which provides emergency services to locals as well as tourists visiting to see the island's
wildlife or its motor-cycle racing.

But Ms Roxon has said the hospital will close and that her talks today with hospital
officials will focus on trying to transfer the hospital's 35-bed aged care service to
another operator.

Ms Roxon has said her main concern is for the safety and welfare of the hospital's
nursing home residents.

Originally established as a bush hospital, Warley has operated as a not-for-profit
community facility since 1923.

The small hospital in the town of Cowes has 80 full-time, part-time and casual staff,
including nurses.

AAP kn/ce/jt/bwl

KEYWORD: WARLEY DAYLEAD

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