More Victorian women will soon have access to free and comprehensive care and support - with the Allan Labor Government announcing the location of our next five more women's health clinics.
Minister for Health, Mary-Anne Thomas, today announced Goulburn Valley Health, alongside Western Health Sunshine, Eastern Health, Monash Health, and Central Highlands Rural Health, as the next locations to open under a four-year plan to open 20 specialised women's health clinics.
Delivering on our commitment to transform women's health, the clinics are removing the barriers women face when trying to access specialist care, delivering more services closer to home including pelvic pain, heavy bleeding, prolapse and incontinence, contraception and menopause services.
Each clinic will include access to specialists including gynaecologists as well as specialist nursing and allied health support, making it easier for women to access specialist care for conditions like endometriosis, pelvic pain, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), incontinence, perimenopause and menopause.
The first five of 20 women's health clinics were launched at the Northern Hospital, Royal Women's Hospital, Frankston Hospital, Barwon Health Geelong and Grampians Health earlier this year.
Women are already benefiting from new services through the Royal Women's Hospital and Peninsula Health clinics with Northern Health ramping up services this month. Significant work has been underway at Grampians Health and Barwon Health with comprehensive services to rolling out by the end of the year.
The clinics are part of the Labor Government's landmark $153 million women's health package to bridge the existing gap in women's healthcare - including a partnership with BreastScreen to deliver a mobile women's health clinic which will visit remote parts of the state.
Victoria has a proud track record of working to improve women's health outcomes - from establishing Victoria's first clinic for women's heart health, rolling out 20 sexual and reproductive health hubs, and launching Victoria's first ever sexual and reproductive health phone line.
As stated by Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas
"We know the gender health gap is real - that is why we're offering these important services under one roof to give Victorian women easier access to the wide-ranging specialist treatments they so desperately need."
"We are transforming the way women in Shepparton and the surrounding communities receive healthcare - for too long they have had their pain ignored and faced lack of access to the affordable, comprehensive care they deserve."
As stated by Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes
"The new Goulburn Valley women's health clinic in Shepparton will make it easier for women across the community to get the specialist care they need, closer to home."
