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General Information and History

Cape Hawke Community Private Hospital is a community owned asset, the Cape Hawke Community Hospital and Health Association Incorporated being the community organisation responsible for it. Since its inception in 1957, the operation of the hospital has been leased to suitably qualified persons, who, in turn, have the responsibility for running it – currently Community Private Health Care Pty Ltd, a wholly owned Australian Company based in New South Wales and with interests in Queensland.

Public funding for services has been sought many times unsuccessfully. A renewed concerted effort is being made through the Mid North Coast Area Health Service and NSW Health for funding announced by the NSW Health Council in 2000. Funding for resuscitation of acute medical patients e.g.: chest pain is being given priority.

Cape Hawke Community Private Hospital is an acute general hospital serviced by 32 General Practitioners, 50 Specialist Doctors, 8 Physiotherapists and a full range of Allied Health Professionals who service the hospital 24 hours a day, 7 days per week.

A $2 million two storey extension was completed in March 2001. The 36 bed ground floor was commissioned in April 2001 taking the license to 62 beds with 8 Day Procedure Beds (70 beds). The increase in available space has made room for the additional new services – Psychiatry, Palliative Care and Stress Testing complimenting the existing license endorsement of Medical, Surgical, Paediatric, High Dependency and Day Procedures.
The first floor is available for addition of beds/services as and when the need arises.

New Services
Psychiatry
In July 2001, Dolphin Wing was commissioned with 9 licensed Psychiatry Beds and facilities for Day Patient Programs. Strategic-Cognitive Behavioural Therapy was commenced in December 2001. S-CBT is a professional and exciting therapy for people from all walks of life introduced to the Manning Great Lakes Area and beyond by Dr Rob Dawson of Brisbane and Cape Hawke Community Private Hospital. In recognition of the family unit, partners are involved appropriately and families are given a forum to discuss issues that they may feel are impacting positively or negatively on their family. Further information may be sort by phoning Glenn, Nursing Unit Manager, Psychiatry on 02 6555 1309.

Palliative Care
The Great Lakes Cottage Hospice moved into the Laurel Cottage Wing in July 2001, enabling the establishment of best practice palliative care in a specialist environment. The need for such a unit was identified several years ago and the association with the Great Lakes Cottage Hospice Committee has assisted the establishment of a fine service for residents and their families.
Cardiac Stress Testing
Cardiac Stress Testing equipment was purchased by Cape Hawke Community Private Hospital in April 2001 and the service commenced immediately, effectively eliminating the need for residents of the Great Lakes Area to travel to Taree. The service is conducted by local Specialist Physicians.