Trangie’s new health building opens its doors, Photos

Over 60 community members gathered at the centre for a morning tea and tour of the new facility, which has been built to replace the former building which was condemned.

The new $1.5 million building is being described as a “one-stop shop”.

Trangie Nurse Manager Robyn Gunter said she views the new building as an easily accessible medical precinct for the township of Trangie.

“I like to think of it as a one-stop shop. You can see the GP, women’s health, the early childhood nurse, community health nurse, you can have blood taken, it is very easy to get to the hospital,” said Ms Gunter.

“It’s not a medical practice, rather a health precinct all under one roof, with easy access, and we are very fortunate in Trangie.

“It’s been built for all ages and genders, from birth through to the end stages of life, it’s a whole community centre, which is fantastic,” she said.

Health Service Manager for Narromine and Trangie Mark Harris believes the centre, which will encompass a number of health service providers under one roof, is a win for the community of Trangie.

“In the past there have been concerns of distance between the CBD and getting here, now once you are here everything else is here as well.”

Mr Harris said the doctors practice in town that has provided their services for 19 years, will move into the new building at the end of the month.

“It has fitted in really well with the facility. You have the medical practice working within 40 meters of the emergency department. While they operate separately, if something occurs the emergency facility is in the same corridor.”

“The facility has been built with that in mind.”

Mr Harris said while the Health Service recognised the need to built the new facility, the township of Trangie were prepared to fundraise for the new build. 

“It was completely government funded. We had the Trangie community geared up to take on that challenge, but the Local Health Service recognised the building was falling down and needed to be replaced,” said Mr Harris.

“Communities shouldn’t have to fund things like this, but Trangie is a good example of where good planning can occur.”

Mr Harris went on to commend the work of community groups in town, which assist with providing new furniture and equipment for the health centre, such as the new shelves in the emergency department that were funded by the Hospital Auxiliary.

“Shelving like this might only be found in newer facilities like Orange, or in the redevelopment of the hospital in Dubbo, but in a smaller town like Trangie we don’t have them.”

“That’s why community groups, like the Cancer Support group and the Hospital Auxiliary, are so important for smaller facilities like us,” he said.

Guests were also treated to a demonstration of the Critical Care Advisory Service (CCAS), which allows a camera to connect with specialists in areas such as Dubbo and Sydney. The technology is used to advise and assist in critical situations and is another resource for conversations between doctors and patients. 

‘We have well skilled staff here but it’s an additional resource for the community,” Mr Harris said.

“It’s a great use of technology to gain access to those resources. In a serious event you can have access to specialist advice, which can be critical.” 

The official opening of the centre will take place in the next couple of months.