At the media conference this afternoon, CEO Craig Fraser (left) said the new strategic plan provides clarity on what SWH aims to achieve by the end of 2024. ‘It sets our strategic plans, the development of our annual business plans, the development of our services and the work we do with our partners in the south west region; it presents our vision for the impact of our work on the health and wellbeing of our south west Victoria community, which will result in improved health and wellbeing outcomes for the people and communities we serve; and it confirms the values that guide the decisions and interactions of our staff at every level of our organisation,’ he explained.
‘It’s a document we do not take lightly,’ added Board Chairman Bill Brown. ‘This plan represents the guiding principles on how South West Healthcare will operate for the next four-and-a-half years.’
For anyone wanting a copy of the 2020-2024 SWH Strategic Plan please go to www.southwesthealthcare.com.au > About us > Strategic Plans. Meantime, here’s some info on a little of what’s within its 37 pages…
HOW THE PLAN WAS DEVELOPED
Fully invested in understanding who we are, what we aim to achieve, and what our communities want to see in what we provide, the plan’s been developed through detailed review of evidence, assessment of our communities’ needs and supported by extensive consultation with our board, executive, managers, staff, consumer representatives, partner organisations and other stakeholders.
THE PLAN’S HIGHEST PRIORITIES FOR THE WHOLE OF SWH’S CATCHMENT AREA
To put our communities front and centre by listening and partnering with our consumers to provide a great experience;further developing our workforce; achieving high quality care and outcomes, improving our infrastructure and IT systems; and working with our partner organisations to result in healthier communities.
THE PLAN’S HIGHEST PRIORITIES FOR THE COMMUNITIES OF INDIVIDUAL SWH CAMPUSES
SWH is a unique healthcare provider due to the end-to-end system we deliver which includes the vital community health, mental health and dental health campuses located in Camperdown, Lismore, Macarthur, Hamilton, Portland and Warrnambool. This plan will see their continued consolidation to provide high quality services as close to home as possible. This is particularly important for our Macarthur and Lismore Community Health facilities that are significant health promoters and providers in their specific communities.
We aim to enhance services through delivering telehealth specialist consults, integrating care and using the strengths of our dedicated local teams.
Camperdown is an important campus of SWH and our strategy to address its infrastructure needs is documented in the plan. Even more than that, we’ll further improve how we integrate care between our Warrnambool and Camperdown campuses to make best use of our operating theatres and access to inpatient beds. Furthermore, at our Camperdown-located Merindah Lodge (our sole residential aged care facility) we aim to develop this facility to meet contemporary standards that also better reflect the standard of care and compassion shown by the wonderful team who work there.
We have a focus on developing our Aboriginal workforce but this only tells part of the story. We will work with our Aboriginal communities and service providers to strengthen the support we offer them whilst continuing to improve the quality of services we offer to the Aboriginal community.