Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas visited Cohealth in Niddrie today to announce the not-for-profit health service has received more than $140,000 from the Metropolitan Health Infrastructure Fund(MHIF) to increase its physiotherapy and podiatry services.
This investment has delivered a large physiotherapy open space for exercise and group work to support the growing demand for their services - providing a greater focus on rehabilitation and more support for low mobility clients. The space can also be used as a large meeting space for staff and community groups.
As part of the upgrade the community will for the first-time have access to a new podiatry orthotics lab at the Niddrie site - allowing for a quicker turnaround in the development of orthotics and the ability to make on-the-spot adjustments for patients.
This investment has also upgraded the dental sterilisation room giving Cohealth Niddrie's dedicated healthcare workers a more modern workspace so they can get more local patients into treatment sooner.
An extra $781,000 from the MHIF is upgrading amenities at Cohealth's Gower Street, Kensington site which is currently underway and a further $47,000 has also fitted the health service's Fitzroy clinic with solar panels.
The fund supports metropolitan health services meet service demand and also improves infection, prevention and control measures allowing patients to return home and get back to work, school, family and community life sooner.
The $225 million MHIF has funded 27 projects for health services and agencies across Melbourne to date.
As stated by Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas
"This investment will ensure our busy hospitals and health services have the vital infrastructure and equipment they need to continue to respond to the needs of their local community."
As stated by Member for Niddrie Ben Carroll
"These important upgrades are supporting the dedicated team at Cohealth in Niddrie to expand their services and get more locals into treatment and care sooner."
