Ambulatory Services Unit
Telephone (03) 5485 5225
Fax (03) 5485 5239
The Ambulatory Services Unit was developed in August 2005 and incorporates Community Nursing Services, Hospital in the Home, Medical Day Unit, Oncology and Palliative Care. The individual areas of the Unit work in conjunction to allow patients to remain at home for treatment or receive treatment as a day stay case with community support. The Unit has representation on several regional committees to allow standardisation of treatments and care across the region. The Unit also assists several support groups within the community, providing information and education programs.
The Ambulatory Services Unit operates Monday to Friday from 8.00 am to 4.30 pm.
Please contact the service you require directly. If you have difficulty contacting a particular service within the Ambulatory Services Unit, please contact the Nurse Manager on (03) 5485 5000 who will assist you.
After Hours
Please contact the hospital on (03) 5485 5000 and ask to speak to the After Hours Manager who will assist you with your enquiry.
Medical Emergency
If the issue is an urgent medical matter please contact 000 for an Ambulance.
Community Nursing Service
Telephone (03) 5485 5227
Fax (03) 5485 5239
Echuca Community Nursing Service provides nursing care to residents of Echuca and the surrounding area within a 25 kilometre radius.
The Community Nursing Service provides care for HACC, DVA, Palliative Care and HITH clients in their homes.
Referrals to Community Nursing can be made by your General Practitioner, Primary Care Centre, Echuca Regional Health, any other hospital, a community member or self.
Community referrals can be made by telephoning (03) 5485 5227 Monday to Friday from 12.00 pm to 4.00 pm.
Hospital In The Home (HITH)
Telephone (03) 5485 5225
Fax (03) 5485 5239
The HITH programme allows patients that would otherwise require hospitalisation to receive medical treatment in their home. The Community Nurses visit the client at home daily to provide the treatment and the client attends a Review Clinic with a General Practitioner from their admitting Medical Practice. The client must meet several criteria for eligibility for admission to the programme. Referrals to HITH may be made by your General Practitioner, Echuca Regional Health Nursing or Medical Staff or any other hospital.
Medical Day/Oncology Service
Telephone Oncology (03) 5485 5226
Chemotherapy (03) 5485 5229
Fax (03) 5485 5239
The Oncology Unit incorporates a Chemotherapy Service and Cancer Support.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy operates on Wednesday and Thursday of each week to deliver chemotherapy treatments to patients in Echuca and the surrounding areas. A visiting Oncologist from St Vincent's Oncology Unit in Melbourne consults every four weeks and oversees chemotherapy treatments.
Referrals to Oncology may be made through your General Practitioner.
The Cancer Support Nurse
The Cancer Support Nurse provides support and education for clients and their families diagnosed with cancer. Cancer Support operates five days per fortnight; non urgent messages may be left on (03) 5485 5226, for urgent issues please phone the Ambulatory Services Unit Nurse Manager on (03) 5485 5000.
Referrals to the Cancer Support Nurse can be made by your General Practitioner, Primary Care Centre, Echuca Regional Health, any other hospital, a community member or self.
Breast Care Nurse
A trained breast care nurse is available for support and education for clients and their families with breast cancer; non urgent messages may be left on (03) 5485 5226, for urgent issues please phone the Ambulatory Services Unit Nurse Manager on (03) 5485 5000.
Referrals to the Breast Care Nurse can be made by your General Practitioner, Primary Care Centre, Echuca Regional Health, any other hospital, a community member or self.
Medical Day Unit (MDU)
Telephone (03) 5485 5229
Fax (03) 5485 5229
The MDU operates every Tuesday and every second Frida, except Public Holidays.
The MDU provides medical treatment for clients whose care requires less than eight (8) hours hospitalisation and does not require a bed.
Referrals to MDU can be made by your General Practitioner.
Community Palliative Care Service
Telephone (03) 5485 5226
Fax (03) 5485 5238
Community Palliative Care provides specialist palliative care nursing support and education to clients, family and carers in their homes. It also provides support and advice to other care agencies within the Shire of Campaspe and in conjunction with the Community Nursing Services in the Shire, provides nursing care to clients in their homes. The Community Palliative Care Service has a limited supply of medical and nursing equipment for use; the Palliative Care Nurse Specialist will assess your care needs and can arrange for hire of any further equipment that may be required to care for a client at home.
The Palliative Care Nurse Specialist is currently available six (6) days per fortnight; non urgent messages may be left on (03) 5485 5226, for urgent issues please phone the Ambulatory Services Unit Nurse Manager on (03) 5485 5000.
For issues regarding nursing care of a palliative client, the Palliative Care Nurse Specialist may be contacted on (03) 5485 5227 or the Ambulatory Services Unit Manager on (03) 5485 000.
Referrals to the Community Palliative Care Service can be made by your General Practitioner, Primary Care Centre, Echuca Regional Health, any other hospital, a community member or self. Once the referral is received a Palliative Care Nurse Specialist will visit you at home or in hospital to assess your needs for specialist support and care.