The Geelong region is growing and is expected to grow by 50 per cent by 2026 to nearly 470,000 people. It is an increasingly desirable place to live, both because of the environment and the economic and social opportunities it offers.
Barwon Health is prepared for this growth, with a number of infrastructure and service projects recently completed or under way, all designed to help meet the needs of the community, placing services closer to home. The most recent example is the state-of-the-art Barwon Health North facility which opened earlier this year.
Barwon Health North at Norlane offers a walk-in urgent care centre, medical imaging facilities, child and family services, midwifery, renal dialysis and mental health support.
Patients can access a range of health services at the walk-in urgent care centre, including treatment for sprains, cuts, minor fractures and infections.
More recently, Barwon Health North has played a critical role in the region’s COVID-19 response. The large white tents housing drive-through testing have been a feature of the car park since the pandemic began, testing more than 40,000 people. Despite the COVID-19 testing presence at the facility, other services remain operational and the community should be assured they are safe and accessible.
The next few years will also see a new women’s and children’s hospital integrated on the main University Hospital Geelong site, and the construction of a parenting unit on the McKellar Centre site. Plans are under way for a new community health service on the Surf Coast.
Also in the pipeline is the construction of a 16-bed inpatient unit for mental health patients, complementing the redevelopment now under way at the McKellar Centre site.
The recent announcement of the Adrian Costa Clinical Trial Centre will provide a truly integrated and co-ordinated approach to research at Barwon Health and will unite the region’s brightest minds in improving the health of the community and position Barwon Health on the world stage as a leader in research.
Barwon Health congratulates all the finalists in the Geelong Business Excellence Awards.
