The state government has announced money for West Wimmera Health Service’s Nhill hospital.

West Wimmera Health Service chief executive Ritchie Dodds said the funding was vital for the hospital as the kitchen was more than 40 years old. 

“We are thrilled by the announcement that we will be receiving this critical funding to redevelop and modernise our Nhill kitchen,” he said.

”It has been a long priority for us to upgrade the kitchen and this funding will allow us to continue to prepare and provide quality, fresh nutritious meals for our patients, aged care residents and community meals on wheels recipients.”  

Corporate and quality services executive director Darren Welsh said while many hospitals nowadays prepared food days in advance and froze it,  West Wimmera Health Service cooked and served meals fresh on the day.  

“We pride ourselves as a service in preparing and providing our meals fresh,” he said.

“This allows us to deliver quality and fresh tasting meals for our customers.

“We receive a lot of positive feedback about the standard of our food, which can be attributed to the care that our hospitality staff take to enhance the culinary experience for our patients and residents.”  

Mr Welsh said the funding would allow the hospital to improve its food storage equipment along with staff training.  

“The kitchen upgrade will create a more efficient system for our service to prepare and deliver meals to all of our patients, residents and community,” he said.

“It will also allow us to provide a modern training environment for our staff undertaking qualifications in commercial cookery.”

The upgrade will include a new walk-in fridges and freezers, featuring sliding door access.

“The redevelopment and purchase of new equipment will improve the workflow design of the current kitchen, enhancing food safety, environmental health and the safety and wellbeing for staff,” Mr welsh said. 

He said the health service would now start the design phase of the project before seeking tenders and procurement for the upgrades.

The project will take about a year to complete.

Member for Western Victoria Jaala Pulford said this was an an important investment for Nhill.

She said the state government was also providing $211,420 for East Wimmera Health Service to replace the lifts at the St Arnaud campus and $63,251 for Goolum Goolum Aboriginal Co-operative to upgrade the medical clinic, improve disabled access and staff amenities.

She said Wimmera Health Care Group would receive $582,095 to upgrade its meal delivery system and replace a dishwasher and kitchen blast chiller.

“We’re putting patients first and revamping our rural and regional health services so more patients in the Wimmera can be treated sooner, closer to home,” she said.

“Our investment will secure the future of our local health service and make a real difference to the lives of patients who will get the safe, high quality care and treatment they need.

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