STAFF WRITERS
VICTORIAN Shadow Health Minister, Georgie Crozier visited Maryvale Private Hospital for a tour.
The Shadow Health Minister’s visit coincided with three days of free community ‘Shane Warne Legacy Health Checks’ at Maryvale Private.
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 its partnership nationally for another two years.
Latrobe Health also recently completed a $16 million redevelopment of Maryvale to provide state-of-the-art acute medical facilities to care for people in the Gippsland region.
During the tour, Ms Crozier met the Latrobe Health Services Chief Executive and Maryvale Private Non Executive Director, Ian Whitehead, and Maryvale Private Hospital Chief Executive, Dan Scholtes.
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,” she said.
“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.
Mr Whitehead said Latrobe Health was proud to partner with such an important initiative.
“We are delighted to welcome the Shadow Victorian Health Minister to Maryvale Private Hospital, which is a valuable asset to the Gippsland region,” he said.
“Maryvale Private Hospital plays a critical role in supporting public and private health and acute services.”
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 per cent increase from March 2022 to January 2023 in heart health checks. Despite the increase, participation rates for eligible females and males remain at less than two per cent of the total Australian population in the period November 2022 to October 2023.
Average participation rates for all genders remains low at 0.7 per cent for 35 to 44-year-olds, 1.3 per cent for 45 to 54-year-olds, and 2.0 per cent 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, visit: latrobehealth.com.au/shane-warne-legacy
