Wednesday,14 August 2024


Adjournment

Health services


Health services

In Victoria this robotic technology is used at hospitals in Melbourne, Geelong and Ballarat, but there is none in Bendigo or anywhere in Northern Victoria, a region that covers over 100,000 square kilometres and nearly half of the state. I commend the work of St John of God hospital in Bendigo. They are seeking to purchase a refurbished robotic machine for $2 million and have already raised over $1 million through the generous support of donors. One machine can support 1000 surgeries each year and would help reduce the long surgery waitlists and the time a patient spends in hospital. It would also help attract more specialists to work in regional Victoria and improve patient outcomes.

Over the last decade surgery waitlists have blown out to record levels. The action I seek is for the minister to ensure that this latest technology is accessible to residents of Northern Victoria and to consider how private and public hospitals can partner together to help reduce surgery waiting lists.