THE Victorian Shadow Health Minister, Ms Georgie Crozier toured not-for-profit private hospital, Maryvale Private Hospital in Morwell on Wednesday, September 18, 2024. The Victorian Shadow Health Minister’s visit coincides with three days of free community ‘Shane Warne Legacy Health Checks’ at Maryvale Hospital from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm until September 20.
Latrobe Health Services is a not-for-profit private health insurer and the owner of Maryvale Private Hospital. As a Founding Partner of Shane Warne Legacy, Latrobe Health has committed to extending their partnership nationally for another two years as part of its annual community investment of $5 million. It also recently completed a $16 million redevelopment of Maryvale Private Hospital to provide start-of-the-art acute medical facilities to care for people in the Gippsland region.
During the tour the Shadow Victorian Health Minister met the Latrobe Health Services CEO and Maryvale Private Non-Executive Director, Ian Whitehead, and CEO of Maryvale Private Hospital, Dan Scholtes, along with other local Members. Since its establishment in 1991, Maryvale Private Hospital has cared for more than 60,000 patients.
Ms Crozier undertook a free 15-minute Shane Warne Legacy Health Check which tested risk factors for cardiovascular disease using blood pressure, heart rate, body composition, and diabetes risk.
Ms Crozier congratulated the program and Latrobe Health Services, “Maryvale Private Hospital is not only providing high quality services and care to the Gippsland community but their owner, Latrobe Health Services, is partnering with the Shane Warne Legacy to promote vital health checks that will save lives.”
“Latrobe Health Services, Maryvale Private Hospital and Shane Warne Legacy should be congratulated on such a worthy initiative that is reaching hundreds of thousands of Australians and providing them with on-the-spot health information,” she says.
Latrobe Health Services’ CEO, Mr Ian Whitehead, says “We are delighted to welcome the Shadow Victorian Health Minister to Maryvale Private Hospital, which is a valuable asset to the Gippsland region. Maryvale Private Hospital plays a critical role in supporting public and private health and acute services.”
"Through our partnership with the Shane Warne Legacy and SiSU Health, we are making a real difference in the lives of Australians particularly in rural and regional areas where access to healthcare can be challenging,” he says.
Maryvale Private Hospital works with local public hospitals through effective coordination and a streamlined referral pathway, giving the community confidence and assurance in local health care.
Shane Warne's untimely death sparked an increase in public interest in heart disease and heart attacks. Medicare reported a 62% increase from March 2022 to January 2023 in heart health checks. But, despite the increase, participation rates for eligible females and males remain at less than 2% of the total Australian population in the period November 2022 to October 2023. Average participation rates for all genders remains low at 0.7% for 35- to 44-year-olds, 1.3% for 45- to 54-year-olds, and 2.0% for 55- to 64-year-olds in the past 12 months.
For more information and to find out where you can access a free Shane Warne Legacy Health Check, please visit: www.latrobehealth.com.au/shane-warne-legacy.