Premier

Supporting Goulburn Valley Health Services To Grow

04 December 2015

Residents in Shepparton and beyond now have access to timely dialysis services, extra palliative care beds and a tele-dentistry service, with three new initiatives open to patients at Goulburn Valley Health.

Minister for Health, Jill Hennessy, today visited the hospital to launch its new night dialysis service, refurbished palliative care beds and an exciting project providing dental care via the internet to remote communities.

Goulburn Valley Health is the first rural Victorian hospital to offer a nocturnal dialysis service, which operates from 7.30pm-5.30am on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday nights. The service enables an extra seven dialysis patients to receive treatment, closer to home, in Shepparton.

Night dialysis offers many benefits for patients including less medication, less dietary restrictions and patients are free to work full time during the day and travel on weekends.

The Andrews Labor Government has also provided more than $950,000 to expand palliative care services at Goulburn Valley Health, tripling the total number of dedicated palliative care beds from two to six.

This expansion will see the hospital recruit a new palliative care specialist to provide expert advice across the entire region on delivering tailored end-of-life care that better meets the needs of patients and their families.

Ms Hennessy also announced Goulburn Valley Health’s dental clinic has been selected as one of two pilot sites for Dental Health Service’s Victoria’s Public Oral Health Tele-dentistry Project.

By using tele-dentistry, dental specialists can share clinical information and images, undertake consultations and develop treatment plans over the internet with patients living in remote communities over the internet.

The Labor Government is delivering $1.38 billion in extra funding that will support Victoria’s hospitals to meet increasing demand, expand and improve services and care, and reduce waiting times.

The Government has also provided $1 million to plan for the redevelopment of Goulburn Valley Health. Last month we established the Goulburn Valley Health Community Advisory Group to help shape the project. The Advisory Group is led by the Member for Shepparton, Suzanna Sheed.

Goulburn Valley Health also received funding through the $200 million Hospital Beds Rescue Fund to open eight more acute inpatient beds and treat and extra 635 patients every year.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Health, Jill Hennessy

“Our latest investments in Goulburn Valley Health will improve facilities and expand services to meet growing demand for dialysis services, compassionate palliative care and specialist dental care for isolated patients.”

“We’re listening to the community to identify opportunities for improving the hospital’s acute services into the future.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Northern Victoria, Jaclyn Symes

“We’re working hard to ensure families in the Goulburn Valley can access the best possible healthcare, close to home and when they need it the most.”

Reviewed 10 February 2021

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