Women’s health clinic to open at GV Health

“Our government has invested more than $153 million to absolutely transform the way in which women’s healthcare is being delivered in our state,” she said.

“This has included an expansion of our sexual and reproductive health hubs from 11 to 20.

“It has included funding to enable an additional 10,800 laparoscopies, ensuring that women can get better diagnosis and treatment of conditions like endometriosis.

“It includes our nation-leading inquiry into women’s pain, where more than 13,000 women and girls have already shared their stories with us and explained their experiences trying to access the care they need.

“And of course, it includes the establishment of 20 women’s health clinics right across Victoria.”

Alongside GV Health, it was also announced Central Highlands Rural Health, Eastern Health, Western Health Sunshine and Monash Health would also be included as the next locations to open under a four-year plan to open 20 specialised women’s health clinics.

The clinics will include access to specialists including gynaecologists as well as specialist nursing and allied health support, to make it easier for all women to access care for conditions such as endometriosis, pelvic pain, polycystic ovary syndrome, incontinence, perimenopause and menopause.

“The women’s health clinics are there to treat a range of conditions that, I have to say, for too long, have been under-diagnosed in our state,” Ms Thomas said.

“For many women from all backgrounds, our healthcare needs have often been shrouded in stigma and shame, and so there’s work to be done to support women access the healthcare that they need.”

GV Health chief operating officer Donna Sherringham thanked the minister for the expansion, saying this would help the hospital expand the care it offered to the community.

“The new clinic will deliver affordable and comprehensive healthcare, ensuring that every woman has access to the specialist healthcare services they need,” she said.

“We expect the first services, which will evolve and grow, will be offered in around December this year.”

“One of the parts will be that we’re bringing with Primary Care Connect that multidisciplinary team approach, where at the moment it’s based at the Graham St site ... and one of the things we’ll be working on is bringing in allied health, particularly physiotherapists in supporting women in that space.”

Primary Care Connect chief executive Trish Quibell welcomed the announcement of its strengthening partnership with GV Health.

“Primary Care Connect has been running a Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Health Hub for the past two years, and extending our working relationship with GV Health will allow us to expand the services we are and have been providing,” she said.

“We have been in discussions with GV Health and look forward to the co-location of a GP and expansion of the clinical services that we can provide, particularly to our CALD communities, in partnership with our migrant services and other marginalised communities.

“However, it is important to note that all of our services are available to the whole community free of charge.”

The first stage of the plan was launched earlier this year, which saw the Northern Hospital, Royal Women’s Hospital, Frankston Hospital, Barwon Health Geelong and Grampians Health named as the first locations to open a specialised women’s health clinic.

The clinics are part of the Victorian Government’s $153 million women’s health package to close the gap in women’s healthcare.