Thursday, 22 August 2019

Families in West Gippsland will be able to get the specialist care they need closer to home thanks to the Andrews Labor Government.

Member for Eastern Victoria, Harriet Shing today announced 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 West Gippsland patients will benefit from at least 800 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 West Gippsland patients needing specialist treatment in areas Gynaecology will benefit from more local appointments at the West Gippsland Hospital 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.

Quote attributable to Minister for Health Jenny Mikakos

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

Quotes attributable to Member for Eastern Victoria, Harriet Shing

“The last thing local 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.”

 “When people are sick, they want to be closer to the comfort of their home with their family and loved ones. The Labor Government is making sure that they can.”