The Allan Labor Government is making sure women have access to free, comprehensive care and support under one roof - with more women's health clinics across the state now open and more on the way.
Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas today visited the Western Health Women's Health Clinic at Sunshine Hospital to celebrate the start of services at five locations and announce where the next five clinics will be delivered - part of a four-year plan to open 20 specialised clinics across Victoria.
The Sunshine clinic is already improving access to outpatient gynaecologist appointments and medical abortion via specialised GPs, while care is also available to women at Central Highlands Rural Health (Kyneton).
At Eastern Health (Blackburn), Goulburn Valley Health (Shepparton), and Monash Health, the clinics are ramping up care, with the clinics fully operational by the middle of the year.
With these services underway, the next five clinics will provide better access to care for regional women - with clinics opening by the end of the year at Bendigo Health, Latrobe Regional Hospital (Traralgon), Mildura Base Hospital, Northeast Health (Wangaratta), and Southwest Health (Warrnambool).
The clinics are transforming how women receive healthcare - removing the barriers many face when trying to access specialist care by delivering more services closer to home.
Services are delivered by hardworking health professionals including gynecologists, urologists, specialist GPs, specialist nurses and allied health support - all under the one roof, for medical abortion, conditions including pelvic pain, heavy bleeding, prolapse and incontinence, contraception and menopause services.
The first five clinics began services last year at Barwon Health (Geelong), Grampians Health (Ballarat, Stawell and Horsham), Peninsula Health (Frankston), Northern Health (Epping), and Royal Women's Hospital.
The clinics are part of the Labor Government's landmark $153 million women's health package that is transforming the way care is delivered in Victoria - and includes a mobile women's health clinic, Aboriginal-led clinic and virtual women's health clinic.
The package has also expanded the sexual and reproductive health hub network to 20 locations, including 12 regional locations, increased access to laparoscopies for endometriosis and associated conditions and provided scholarships for more than 150 women's specialists.
For more information, please visit health.vic.gov.au/public-health/womens-health-wellbeing-program.
As stated by Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas
"For too long, women have not been heard when it comes to their health - it's why we're making sure every woman in Victoria can access free and comprehensive care, no matter where they live."
"The third round of women's health clinics will be a gamechanger for women in regional Victoria, making it easier for them to get the free specialist care they need, closer to home."
As stated by Member for St Albans Natalie Suleyman
"The new clinic at Sunshine Hospital is already improving access to care for women in the west and will help to remove the barriers many women face for different health concerns throughout their life."
