West Gippsland Healthcare Group’s 2023/2024 Annual Report has been released at the Annual General Meeting, providing an overview of the organisation’s activities and performance for the last financial year.

WGHG reported a net operating loss of $7.24M for FY23/24, citing increased service delivery costs and other economic flows for the deficit. Net assets increased by $25.4M following an independent revaluation of the organisation’s land and buildings. Donations and bequests totalled $625,000, providing significant support for the delivery of services and care to the community.

Admissions increased by 6.5 per cent with theatre cases reaching a record 3,709. The Priority Primary Care Centre in Warragul continued to offer choice to patients and welcome relief to WGHG’s Emergency Department.

The AGM was held at West Gippsland Arts Centre and lead by outgoing CEO Dan Weeks and Board Director Jo-Anne Moorfoot. Frankies Community Kitchen Chairperson Geoff Manson gave a presentation about the organisation’s work salvaging quality ingredients that would usually be thrown away to make meals for people in need.

Life Governors and Innovation and Improvement Award winners were also announced. Warragul businessman and long-term supporter of WGHG, Graham Rowe, and former General Manager of Warragul Linen Service, Bill Crotty, received Life Governor Awards. Andrews House Nurse Unit Manager Emily Presley and Injury Management Advisor Jenna Sharks were joint winners of the Innovation and Improvement Award. Physiotherapist Abeshek Nadarajah and the Surgical Ward were highly commended.