A Rapid Access Hub will be established at Werribee Mercy Hospital as part of the state government’s COVID Catch-Up Plan to increase the number of elective surgeries across the state.
The hubs are part of a $1.5 billion investment that will boost surgical activity and provide care to those who had their surgeries deferred because of the global pandemic.
A number of public hospitals across Metropolitan Melbourne will receive a hub, made exclusively to perform specific surgeries such as hernia repairs, cataract surgeries, and joint replacements.
As well as Werribee Mercy, the seven additional hubs will be established at hospitals including, St Vincent’s on the Park, Broadmeadows, Heidelberg Repatriation, Sandringham, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and the Royal Women’s Hospital.
Acting Premier James Merlino said the investment will see a record number of Victorians get the surgeries they need by undertaking an extra 40,000 surgeries in the next year.
“The pandemic has been really tough on everyone, but nothing matters more than the health of our loved ones. We’ve got a plan to make sure every Victorian family gets the care they deserve,” Acting Premier James Merlino said.
A $475 million funding boost will support more activity in the public system, including increasing same-day surgeries, keeping theaters open on nights and weekends, and operating room improvements to increase efficiency.
Victoria’s healthcare workforce will also be supported by a package of more than $80 million to upskill about 1000 nurses and theatre and sterilisation technicians, support the training of 400 perioperative nurses and recruit an additional 2000 highly skilled healthcare workers from overseas.
Health Minister Martin Foley said the “game-changing” investment would ensure more Victorians receive the care they need.
“We’ve seen Covid disrupt care and cancel surgeries for people right across the country, while our hardworking nurses and doctors have put everything into caring for the most critical patients.”
