Welcome to the Eastern Health Report to the Community for 2019/2020; a chance to highlight our performance in a number of key clinical areas as well as demonstrating our commitment to providing safe, high-quality health care.

Since our inception in 2000, Eastern Health has focused on delivering the best possible healthcare outcomes through responsive and values-based care for our consumers, staff, and the wider community.

Through engagement with our staff and consumers, we are able to continue to grow as an organisation and develop innovative ways in which to provide excellent care. As demonstrated in this publication, the feedback we receive from our community plays a central role in what we do to advance the services we offer.

Eastern Health continues to work with community healthcare providers such as general practitioners, community health services and affiliated healthcare agencies, and partner with our patients, clients, residents and carers to provide a service that is responsive and meets the dynamic requirements of a diverse population.

We acknowledge all staff and volunteers for their exceptional work and commitment to the provision of safe, high-quality and innovative health care. We also recognise our community for its continued support and engagement with us.

It has been a year like no other, with the COVID-19 pandemic dramatically changing the way we live, work and care for our community. The pandemic required Eastern Health to pivot from normal operations to support the Australian and Victorian responses and lead the local response to COVID-19.  Despite these challenges, we have many achievements to recognise. Our commitment to provide great care for our patients has continued to be at the forefront of everything we do.

 Our volunteers: 1,375,037 Episodes of patient care – up 2.1% or 25,666 more episodes. 51,749 ambulance arrivals to our three emergency departments – up by 3.4% – that’s approximately one ambulance every 10 minutes. 16,038 patients admitted for elective surgery – 11.5% less than the previous year*.  118,080 hours of Volunteer service up until March 2020 when the Volunteer Program was suspended due to COVID-19 restrictions. 652 volunteers contributed. Average 76% of ambulance patients transferred within 40 minutes. 277,766 specialist clinic appointments – 1.7% less than last year* 37,921 operations – 5.1% less than the previous year* 4702 people admitted to our mental health inpatient units 167,034 emergency department presentations – that’s approximately one person every three minutes 4790 babies born *Elective surgery and specialist clinic appointments were impacted by COVID-19 restrictions. 92: number of nationalities that make up the Eastern Health workforce. 24: number of staff who identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander. 288,956 occasions of service provided by mental health community services

240 Mental Health Quality Account Tiles

October is Mental Health Month, an opportunity for all of us to focus on our mental health and well being.

240 Patient Care for Kids Quality Account Tiles

Last year 53 staff, family and friends from Box Hill Hospital banded together to raise funds for toys and equipment for the Childrens Ward with the goal of making kid’s time in hospital a little more comfortable and fun.

240 Int Nurses Day Quality Account Tiles

We had a great week celebrating our nurses and midwives, who make an incredible contribution to our team!

240 Angliss Quality Account Tiles

Thank you to everyone who over the last 80 years has helped make Angliss Hospital such an important and powerful part of the community.

240 Jean Pierre Quality Account Tiles

“I am forever grateful that I’m alive today to take care of my family.”

The story of Jean-Pierre is a story of survival.

240 Medication MGMT Quality Account Tiles

Jim discusses what you need to know about medication safety after becoming a carer.

Closing the Health Gap

mabo day Quality Account Tiles

National Reconciliation Week was also the 28th anniversary of the Mabo decision; an important day in the history of Australia.

National reconcilaition Quality Account Tiles

National Reconciliation Week is an opportunity for all of us to take time to reflect and learn about Aboriginal culture and history.

family sports day Quality Account Tiles

“To me, ‘Connect with Respect’ means integration of the needs of Aboriginal people and their health with our culture. These sorts of informal interactions just break down a whole lot of barriers for everybody involved.”

womin Quality Account Tiles

Welcome to the opening of the Wominjeka Room, a culturally safe space for Aboriginal staff and students that attend Box Hill Hospital.

Diversity & Inclusion

Purple Day Quality Account Tiles

Wear It Purple Day is an opportunity for us to stop and consider how we can better support vulnerable and at-risk people during these challenging times.

Volunteer week Quality Account Tiles

This National Volunteer Week we pause to thank our 700+ volunteers

Part Time Training Quality Account Tiles

The flexible training program has allowed surgeons in training to continue to grow their skills and have a family while maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

Midsumma Quality Account Tiles

We are proud to celebrate LGBTIQ culture and show our support at the Midsumma Festival

240 Deb Leach Quality Account Tiles

IPAA Victoria names A/Prof Deborah Leach one of the Top 50 Public Sector Women 2020.

240 pro devl Quality Account Tiles

Katya joined Eastern Health as a Ward Clerk nine years ago and thanks to hard work, initiative, and professional development opportunities she has been appointed to Associate Director, Quality, Planning & Innovation.

240 Studnet Placements Quality Account Tiles

Maintaining student placements during the #COVID19 pandemic is essential to ensure we have a highly skilled workforce for the future.

It’s also a fantastic opportunity for students to be a part of the health service and gain real world experience of what happens during a pandemic.

240 covid19 grant Quality Account Tiles

Thanks to funding from the Department of Health and Human Services, this research will investigate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the wellbeing of Victorian healthcare workers and their families.

240 telehealth Quality Account Tiles

Telehealth connects patients and health care providers to each other, without the need for travelling to Eastern Health facilities.

240 telehealth in media Quality Account Tiles

Our Telehealth program has been incredibly important for patients during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This video from 9 News shows the benefits of the Telehealth program at Eastern Health.

240 3d mammo Quality Account Tiles

New research from Eastern Health pilot study has provided greater detection results when screening for breast cancer.

240 Research Forum Quality Account Tiles

The Research Forum gives our researchers the opportunity to share what they’re doing in their areas, discuss and share ideas.

9.1 Quality Account Tiles

Thank you to the incredibly positive team of people from COVID Ward 9.1 at Box Hill Hospital for their amazing work.

womens health Quality Account Tiles

Women’s Health Week is a great opportunity to celebrate women’s health and to focus on the importance of making good health a priority.

Olivia Quality Account Tiles

Olivia is one of our dedicated staff working in the front line of our fight against COVID-19.

Updates Quality Account Tiles

What we’re doing is working, keep it up Victoria.