Waiting times gynaecology surgery and specialist clinic appointments have been cut in half at Barwon Health, thanks to an innovative change in the service model.
Previously there were more than 1000 women awaiting a non-urgent first appointment at the gynaecology specialist clinic and this has now fallen to fewer than 400, with a wait time reduction from two years to 12 months or less. Clinically urgent cases are assessed for earlier appointments.
Gynaecology Director Dr Tony Ma said redesigning Barwon Health’s Gynaecology clinic to a “see and treat” model had improved the way the clinic operated and decreased the number of times a patient needed to be reviewed prior to proceeding with surgery, if required.
“There is also increased theatre capacity for gynaecology operating sessions available through the newly commissioned Building B theatre complex at University Hospital Geelong,” Dr Ma said.
“Procedures that previously were not locally available and required transfer of care to Melbourne or had long wait times are now more accessible locally.
“Many of these procedures had associated long waits for surgery, such as minimally invasive laparoscopic (keyhole), complex vaginal surgery or difficult gynaecological cases that also require a colorectal or urological surgeon to attend.”
“This year, we plan to further expand our gynaecology specialist clinics, as well as further increasing surgery from eight operating sessions per week to 16.
“We have also improved access for all women to colposcopy clinics for the investigation of abnormal cervical screens and the prevention of progression to cervical cancer, which is no longer limited to health care card holders only.
“Barwon Health is committed to continuing to improve the quality and timely gynaecological care for the women of Geelong and broader the Barwon South West region.”
