Women across Melbourne’s west will be able to access free, comprehensive care and support under one roof as part of the new Women’s Health Clinic at Sunshine Hospital.
Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas opened the clinic on Monday April 14.
The new Western Health clinic will provide a ’one-stop-shop’ experience – enabling women to receive services or advice on issues from contraception to menopause and pelvic pain. The clinics will facilitate access to interdisciplinary care for women, girls, and gender diverse people.
The Sunshine clinic is already improving access to outpatient gynaecologist appointments and medical abortion via specialised GPs.
These services are delivered by health professionals including gynaecologists, urologists, specialist GPs, specialist nurses and allied health support – all under the one roof, for medical abortion, conditions including pelvic pain, heavy bleeding, prolapse and incontinence, contraception and menopause services.
St Albans MP Natalie Suleyman, who accompanied the Ms Thomas, said the new addition to Western Health would be beneficial for all local women.
“The new clinic at Sunshine Hospital is already improving access to care for women in the west and will help to remove the barriers many women face for different health concerns throughout their life,” she said.
The clinics are part of a $153 million women’s health package that includes a mobile women’s health clinic, Aboriginal-led clinic and virtual women’s health clinic.
As part of those virtual clinics, women and gender diverse people accessing the service via phone or video consultation will be connected to a specialist nurse who will provide an initial health assessment and treatment, and, if required, connect patients with a GP, specialist, or other health practitioner as close to home as possible.
The virtual clinic, set to commence operation in 2025, will provide sexual and reproductive health services including contraception and medical termination of pregnancy.
It will also include specialist services for endometriosis and pelvic pain care, menstrual health, perimenopause and menopause care, breast health care, and cervical screening.
