UPDATE, MONDAY: BENDIGO Health has welcomed the promise of a surgical robot if the Liberal Nationals are elected to government in November.
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But the project does not rank among the hospital’s most pressing priorities for investment and improvement.
“Our number one priority is the upgrade of our Golden Oaks residential care facility, which is currently underway,” a Bendigo Health spokesperson said.
“Our next priority is addressing ageing infrastructure by moving ancillary services from the towers to the old hospital site.
“This would include relocating our outpatient rehabilitation and replacing the hydrotherapy pool.”
The spokesperson said the health care group welcomed investment in health services in the region.
“There are always competing proprieties in healthcare and changing technologies and we want to keep up with this where possible,” they said.
Bendigo Advertiser readers took to social media to suggest other areas of investment they believed warranted attention prior to a surgical robot.
A public ear, nose and throat specialist service and neurology services were among the suggestions.
SUNDAY: BENDIGO Health will receive a robot to assist with surgeries if the Liberal Nationals are elected to government in November, the shadow health minister promised.
The region’s surgical robot would be one of four purchased statewide as part of a $20 million package.
Other proposed recipients include Austin and Mercy Health, Monash Health and Western Health.
“Investing in surgical robots in our public hospitals will help save lives, reduce complications and improve recoveries as well as freeing up hospital beds for others,” shadow health minister Mary Wooldridge said.
She said robots allowed surgeons to perform complex surgery through keyhole incisions, which was often less invasive, limited complications and reduced a patient’s recovery time when compared to conventional open surgery.
Bendigo-based urological surgeon Dr Janelle Brennan said placing a surgical robot in the region would make a huge difference to regional and rural Victorians.
“We have been agitating for these robots to be available for all of our patients for a number of years as we can clearly see that this is where the future is and, as surgeons, we want what's best for our patients,” she said.
“At the moment many of my patients have to travel four hours to get to Melbourne and access technology if they can even get on the list, and most of them choose not to because travelling to Melbourne is a huge imposition.
“They will be able to have their treatment close to home in our beautiful new hospital with world-class healthcare.”
Surgical robots are available in Melbourne and Geelong.
Ms Wooldridge said two public hospitals in Victoria had surgical robots – Peter Mac and the Royal Melbourne – whereas there were 11 robots in the state’s private hospitals.
“This investment will ensure that people in Central Victoria can access cutting-edge robotic surgery, not just those who have private health insurance and can travel to Melbourne,” she said.
The $20 million package also includes the establishment of a robotic surgery outcomes registry, to monitor and assess outcomes of robotic surgery.
Ms Wooldridge said Victoria’s first da Vinci surgical system was installed at Epworth Richmond in 2003.
The state election is on November 24.
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