Ballan District Health & Care acting chief executive Rowena Clift is moving from the role she has held for a year in transforming the financially struggling health service to take over as head of the Western Victoria Primary Health Network.
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Ms Clift will take on the new role from June, having helped restructure BDHC including an overhaul and reduction of services offered.
"As Rowena steps into her new role, she leaves behind a great legacy in a short period of time," said BDHC chair Lyn Gunnell.
When Ms Clift took over the BDHC role in May, 2019, the community-owned bush nursing hospital had been given a $500,000 loan from the state government in 2018 and had recorded operating losses of more than $3.34 million over the previous two financial years.
Since then the Ballan & District Hospital's urgent care clinic has closed, as it was only seeing an average of six patients a week, with a new emergency treatment room established in the hospital's GP clinic or patients sent to Ballarat or Bacchus Marsh.
Radiology and dental services at the cash-strapped health service also closed due to staff losses.
In a recent update to the community, Ms Clift revealed BDHC's Ballan Childcare Centre had been sold with a new operator taking the reins in March, with no loss of staff or services.
And since December four new doctors have joined the GP clinic, and two have left, while an existing GP has increased her hours from one day a week to four.
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"Rowena has forged wonderful working relationships with our staff, and built successful partnerships with neighbouring health services, the State and Commonwealth, all of which are critical for the future," Ms Gunnell said.
After her new role was announced, Ms Clift thanked the staff, residents, patients and the people of Ballan for their support and hard work over the past 12 months.
"BDHC is fortunate to have capable, dedicated staff, exceptional clinical standards and strong relationships with the community," Ms Clift said.
"My passion is primary care and delivering services on the ground to communities and I'm looking forward to being able to continue this important work with Western Victoria Primary Health Network."
She said her experience at Ballan would help shape her in her new job.
"My recent experience in managing a busy health service in a small rural town and a General Practice clinic has been invaluable in further understanding the challenges faced by primary health care in rural and remote areas," she said.
"This includes challenges such as supporting the complexities of aged care as well as the ongoing general practitioner workforce issues faced by communities across western Victoria."
Ms Clift takes over from outgoing Western Victoria PHN chief Dr Leanne Beagley, who will become chief executive of Mental Health Australia.
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