From today, 1st July 2019, Lorne Community Hospital & Otway Health are officially one entity, Great Ocean Road Health. The newly appointed Great Ocean Road Health Board now operates across the combined existing health services, with each site remaining just as they are now, with all current staff and services maintained.
On behalf of the newly appointed Great Ocean Road Health Board, I would like to thank our communities for your continued support of our services at Lorne Community Hospital and Otway Health, and as we come together under our new umbrella entity, Great Ocean Road Health.
Collaboration between Otway Health and Lorne Community Hospital over the last two years has delivered stronger GP practices, enhanced clinical capability and operational efficiencies at both sites. Formal integration builds on these proven benefits to both communities, meaning more robust, readily available health care for Apollo Bay, Lorne and our broader communities well into the future. All our existing health services will remain just as they are now, with all current staff and services maintained.
Sadly, our CEO Kate Gillan, has accepted an offer from Barwon Health to assume the role of Chief Nursing & Midwifery Officer. This appointment, to take effect July 23, is both an exciting opportunity for Kate and an acknowledgment of her strong skillset and work ethic. We wish Kate well in her new role and look forward to a strengthened relationship with Barwon Health as a result. A plan is in place to appoint an acting CEO until a permanent replacement is recruited.
Great Ocean Road Health will continue to focus on developing more robust, readily available quality health care for Apollo Bay, Lorne & surrounding communities well into the future.
“Like it was before, but better.’”
Nicholas Salkeld
Great Ocean Road Health Board Chair