May 7th, 2022Better health care

Ballarat and Grampians patients will have better treatment closer to home for cancer therapy, surgery and mental health as part of the major expansion of health care announced in the Victorian Budget 2022/23.
Patients at Ballarat Base Hospital will benefit from a $6.5 million investment in robot-assisted surgery that will deliver the best possible surgery outcomes and reduce recovery time.
The innovative technology sees surgeons control the movements of robotic arms for some procedures, which is less invasive and can result in less scarring and blood loss, and lower risk of infection.
The Ballarat Austin Radiation Oncology Centre will receive $3.5 million for a replacement radiotherapy linear accelerator (Linac) to treat cancer patients and reduce the need for Ballarat patients to travel to Melbourne for treatment.
The machine, which uses high-energy radiation beams to treat many types of cancer with pinpoint accuracy, can treat more patients than other standard radiation treatments.
The investment is part of an $11.1 million investment in three new and replacement radiotherapy linear
accelerators in regional Victoria.
The Grampians Public Health Unit will share in a $40 million statewide boost, allowing them to provide community care and guidance as part of the ongoing COVID-19 response and deliver local responses to other public health issues.
Staffing at regional hospitals and healthcare services, including Ballarat, will also be bolstered as part of the statewide initiative to help 1,125 registered undergraduate nursing students enter the workforce earlier, as well as the recruitment of a further 2,000 ex-pat and international healthcare workers.