Boosting telehealth for macedon ranges and hepburn locals

Victorians living in the Macedon Ranges and Hepburn region will receive more specialist medical care sooner and closer to home with a big boost to telehealth services when they’re needed most.

Five Regional and Rural Health Partnerships will see local health services in each of the regions partner with each other to support patients receiving medical care closer to home via telehealth – thanks to a big $4.5 million investment.

The investment means Central Highlands Rural Health (Kyneton Health and Daylesford Health) in the Loddon Mallee Health Network will deliver more services via telehealth.

This expansion of telehealth across the state also ensures regional Victorians can continue to keep their appointments and get the medical care they need during the coronavirus pandemic.

The coronavirus pandemic has led to the widespread adoption of telehealth by doctors, nurses and allied health providers to deliver acute, chronic, primary and specialty care that does not require face-to-face services.

The use of telehealth in regional Victoria was already growing as an effective way to deliver healthcare services before the coronavirus pandemic and the Regional and Rural Telehealth Partnerships initiative means even more people living in regional Victoria will benefit.

Each region will receive a regional telehealth lead and local telehealth support officers who will train clinicians and support patients on how to use telehealth, as well as fund equipment such as webcams, computers, tablets and headsets.

The five Regional and Rural Health Partnerships benefiting from the telehealth boost are:

Barwon South Western Regional Area Health Partnership Grampians Regional Area Health Partnership Loddon Mallee Health Network Hume Regional Cluster Partnership Gippsland Regional Area Health Partnership

Quote attributable to Member for Macedon, Mary-Anne Thomas MP
"We’re making it easier for Macedon Ranges and Hepburn locals to see a specialist, because delaying that appointment can have devastating health consequences. Please do not delay getting the care you need – it could save your life."