News

Concierge Service for Mildura Base Hospital

Wed, 07 Jun 2017 05:51:00

Visitors to Mildura Base Hospital will be greeted by the friendly face of a voluntary “concierge” from later this year, thanks to the generosity of patrons at the recent Mildura Pacing Cup carnival.

The hospital received a donation of $1200 this week from the Mildura Harness Racing Club, raised from the auctioning of rides in the mobile starting barrier vehicle during the carnival.
MBH chief executive Julia Morgan said the money would allow planning to go ahead for the establishment of a much-anticipated voluntary hospital concierge service.
“We think it’s a fantastic idea from our hospital Community Advisory Board and we’re excited this donation will provide some of the funding to allow it to get underway,” Ms Morgan said.
“We always ensure donations are directed to exactly the service or support specified by the donor –but in cases like this, where the donor doesn’t stipulate, the money goes to an area or service that we see will be of most benefit to the community,” she said.
MBH Community Advisory Committee chair Gayle Danson said the concierge service was an initiative the committee was keen to see implemented.
“A few of us have seen similar services at other hospitals and found they made a huge difference to people’s experience in the hospital,” Ms Danson said.
“Sometimes people are upset or stressed when they arrive and many people who come through the doors are unfamiliar with the layout of the hospital,” she said.
“The concierge is basically a friendly face, helping people with any initial inquiries and directing them to where they want to go, or where they can get information.”
Ms Morgan said the voluntary service would complement the work of the hospital’s reception staff.
“Our reception team does an amazing job but they are often busy and attending to multiple tasks, so the concierge will be able to concentrate just on helping people who come through the door,” she said.
The donation allows planning to begin for the installation of a concierge desk with the rollout of the service expected later in the year.
Ms Danson said it was hoped additional hospital volunteers could be recruited to provide the service.
“We already have more than a dozen fantastic volunteers at MBH and between them they commit hundreds of hours each year to providing some of the ‘little extras’ to patients, carers and visitors,” she said.
“Hopefully the concierge role will be something a little different and interest some people prepared to help out in their community.”
Anyone interested in volunteering at MBH can contact Faye at MBH reception on 5022 3333.

Pictured: Mildura Harness Racing Club secretary manager Tim Scala, Community Advisory Board chair Gayle Danson, MBH CEO Julia Morgan and MHRC President Alan Lister handing over the cheque in the area where the concierge will be located, in front of the busy MBH reception.