Specialist Appointments Close To Home For Regional Victorians

  • Minister for Health

Regional Victorians will be able to get the specialist care they need closer to home thanks to the Andrews Labor Government.

Minister for Health Jenny Mikakos visited Bendigo Hospital today to announce the Labor Government had delivered on its commitment to fund 500,000 specialist appointments in regional Victoria, thanks to a $136.2 million investment in the Victorian Budget 2019-20.

Some 125,000 specialist appointments are funded across regional Victoria this financial year alone, meaning Bendigo patients will benefit from at least 15,000 appointments closer to home, without the need for inconvenient and costly trips to Melbourne.

Too often, regional Victorians are forced to hit the road to get the specialist treatment that they need. The Labor Government is making sure they can get their care at home.

In Bendigo, patients needing specialist treatment in the areas of cardiology, oncology, geriatrics, paediatrics, podiatry, haematology, nephrology, general and respiratory medicine and audiology will benefit from more local appointments in 2019-20.

In total, the Labor Government is paving the way for an additional 75,000 appointments for patients with heart conditions, 30,000 appointments for patients with arthritis, 50,000 appointments for Victorians with chronic pain and 40,000 appointments for cancer patients.

It’s all part of the Labor Government’s plans to make sure that regional Victorians get the same world-class healthcare as Melbourne patients, no matter where they live.

The Government is also building the $60 million Bendigo Hospital Day Rehabilitation Centre to bring together the various rehabilitation services on offer in Bendigo under the one roof.

As stated by Minister for Health Jenny Mikakos

“The last thing patients need when they’re battling illness is long, costly and inconvenient trips to Melbourne to get the treatment they need. We’re fixing that.”

As stated by Member for Bendigo East Jacinta Allan

“Our investment means that patients will no longer face huge bills for private appointments or pay for costly trips to Melbourne to see a specialist. It means more time to recover at home with loved ones.”

As stated by Member for Bendigo West Maree Edwards

“Not only are we making more specialist appointments available closer to home for Bendigo patients, we’re providing Bendigo Health record funding for nurses and doctors to do what they do best.”

/Public Release. View in full here.