Southern Highlands Private Hospital have made it easier for farmers struggling to access the health treatments they need.
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Ramsay Health Care have announced they will waive hospital “excess fees and/or co-payments” to eligible primary producers who are privately insured and seek hospital treatment between October 1, 2018 and March 31, 2019.
Ramsay currently operates 73 facilities across Australia including Southern Highlands Private Hospital.
CEO Danny Sims said the organisation wanted to help relieve some of the stress currently being experienced by farmers as they continue to battle a prolonged drought.
“Coming to hospital can often be a stressful time under normal circumstances, let alone for primary producers who are undergoing testing times through no fault of their own,” Mr Sims said.
“We want to make it easier for drought-affected families to seek the care they need,” he said.
The offer will be available to farmers who live in drought-declared areas and receive the federal government’s farm household allowance.
The initiative is part of a wider strategy by Ramsay Health Care to provide assistance to farmers, including the delivery of mental health assistance to drought-affected communities.
Staff fundraising lunches are also being held during September, including one at Southern Highlands Private Hospital on Thursday, September 13.
Employees are being encouraged to wear farmer attire in addition to their normal uniform and donate $5 each while taking part in the event.
Mr Sims said the company would match money raised at events held across Ramsay sites and donate the funds to Rural Aid’s ‘Buy a Bale’ campaign.
“Our employees are already dedicated to helping patients. Hosting this series of lunches across the country gives us all an opportunity to assist farmers beyond the doors of our hospitals and clinics,” he said.
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