Future of Vic’s Warley Hospital and elderly care under discussion

Aged and Community Care Victoria (ACCV) is hopeful  about the future of the Warley Hospital, following a recent public meeting on Phillip Island.

The state industry association inherited the bush nursing hospital and aged care facility on Phillip Island from the Warley Trustees, after the facility closed in January this year.

At the time, the trustees entered negotiations to transfer the aged care operations to Mercy Aged Care, but these plans fell through in June.

The disused assets were then transferred to ACCV as a result of a condition in the Warley Trust Deed.

Although no decisions were reached at the meeting chaired by respected public figure, Adrian Nye, ACCV chief executive officer, Gerard Mansour, said it provided a good opportunity to explain the complicated series of events to community members.

“The community expressed its disappointment about the closure of the hospital back in January, which clearly pre-dated this current issue, but is part of the recent history,” Mr Mansour said.

“The community also expressed views that there are continuing health service needs on the island.”

Mr Mansour said the most urgent priority at the moment is to formally transfer ownership of the assets to ACCV.

It is likely that this process will require an application to the Supreme Court, although it is not clear how long this would take.

The meeting was informed that there is currently a $2.4 million debt associated with the assets, that is growing at a rate of about $20,000 each month.

It is understood that when this debt is considered, the net value of the facility is somewhere between $800,000 and $2 million.