July 2003

New PANCH Health Service opens

Public health services have returned to the corner of Bell Street and Plenty Road in Preston after an absence of five years.

Health Minister Bronwyn Pike officially opened the new PANCH Health Service, returning services to the site of the former Preston and Northcote Community Hospital.

The $7 million centre, on the former hospital carpark site, has been named after PANCH to reflect the suburb’s proud hospital history and the importance of the former hospital to the area.

Ms Pike said PANCH would provide a range of hospital medical clinics, such as renal dialysis and other specialist services, alongside community health programs.

The facility will be managed by Northern Health and comprises a range of services provided by a number of different agencies.

The agencies worked with community representatives in the planning, building and commissioning of the service.

Services being offered and the agencies providing them are specialist medical clinics (Northern Health/Mercy Health), renal dialysis (Austin Health), dental services (Darebin Community Health, City of Darebin and Dental Health Services Victoria), allied health (Darebin Community Health), aged care (Northern Health and Darebin Community Health), family and children’s services (Darebin Community Health/City of Darebin), drug and alcohol services (Moreland Hall), bulk-billed GP clinic (Darebin Community Health) and community information and liaison (Northern Health).

Ms Pike said the services were being progressively introduced and will all be operational by mid-July.