24 May 2010

Health Choices Melbourne will provide a range of hospital substitution, post acute care and community nursing services across Melbourne, similar to existing Health Choices’ home nursing services in regional Victoria and the Perth metropolitan area.

St John of God Health Care’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Dr Michael Stanford, said the acquisition represents the not for profit group’s firm commitment to the expansion of out-of-hospital clinical services both as an alternative to hospital admission and as an avenue to promote early and supported hospital discharge.

“We identified a community need driven by demographic, social and political change: the increase in the aged population, the growing trend in people living alone, and the desire of health funds and Governments to support people in need of care within their homes as much as possible,” he said.

St John of God Health Choices General Manager, Steve Hall, said he and his team are committed to further developing Health Choices, including the new Melbourne service. This dynamic and growing service operates alongside St John of God Health Care’s hospital, pathology and disability services, and its wide range of social outreach programs.

Health Choices complements St John of God Health Care’s holistic approach to health care and is increasing the organisation’s reach and capacity to enhance people’s lives across physical, mental
and spiritual dimensions.