State of the art: The surgical team at Benalla Health in front of its new matachana steam steriliser. Pictured are: (back) Benalla Health’s Paula Williams, Mewan Dissan, Anna Stepowary, chief executive Jackie Kelly, Jen Temple, Helen Sebastian, Kristan Cheetham and Leanne Hodgson. (Front) Sudauman Madurawalam, Belinda Taylor and Kylie Hughes.
Photo by
Simon Ruppert
Benalla Health will continue to offer first-class medical facilities to the community thanks to an investment of more than $330,000.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
The hospital has recently made two purchases of equipment for its surgical theatre.
It now has a new steam steriliser, which has replaced a decades-old one, and new lighting for its surgical theatre, which is light, easy to move and considerably cooler than the previous set-up.
Benalla Health nurse unit manager Anna Stepowary said the new steriliser would ensure it could provide a safe service to the community.
“We had an older machine that could no longer be repaired, so we’re very lucky to have this,” Ms Stepowary said.
“It’s also online, so if it breaks down or needs a service, a company down in Melbourne are alerted and can either fix it online or send someone up here.
“I believe it cost in the region of $280,000, so it’s a huge investment for the hospital.”
New lights: Benalla Health nurse unit manager Anna Stepowary and Belinda Taylor.
Photo by
Simon Ruppert
The second investment was to purchase new lights for the operating theatre.
“Those cost in the region of $52,000, so another big investment by Benalla Health,” Ms Stepowary said.
“The previous ones were 40 years old, so much heavier and hotter.
“So from an occupational health and safety point of view, these are a big improvement.”
Benalla Health has a contemporary, surgically clean, double theatre complex where minor to medium complexity procedures are undertaken.
Modern, state-of-the-art equipment is available to make correct diagnoses and deliver optimal treatment.
Medical and nursing staff are highly trained and competent health professionals committed to meeting the local and neighbouring communities’ current and future surgical needs.
About 2200 cases per year are safely managed through Benalla Health’s operating theatres, with high levels of patient satisfaction being achieved.
The theatre complex has attained 100 per cent compliance with Australian Standard AS/NZS4187 audits, and all staff pride themselves on consistently providing a safe, efficient and person-centred service.
Visiting surgeons from as far away as Melbourne work with highly trained GP anaesthetists to provide a range of services, including:
General surgery (hernia repair, vasectomy, laparoscopic cholecystectomy)
36°C