Grampians Health has opened a new haematology clinic in Stawell, expanding access to specialist care in the region.

The clinic complements a fortnightly service in Horsham and will help patients diagnosed with a blood disorder to access treatment locally, reducing the need for patients to travel to Ballarat or Melbourne to manage conditions.

Grampians Health chief operating officer Ben Kelly said Stawell patients had to travel to Horsham or Ballarat to access haematology services in the public system prior to the clinic’s opening.

“The clinic in Stawell, which is a fortnightly service, was established after we identified a local need,” he said.

“Many of our Horsham patients were travelling from Stawell, so we assessed the demand and started the clinic this year to make care more accessible.”

Grampians Health haematologist Adam Facey said a haematology clinic was instrumental in diagnosing and treating people with blood disorders and cancers such as leukaemia, myeloma and lymphoma.

“With the new clinic, patients with bleeding and clotting conditions but do not have cancer, will now receive quicker attention and care,” he said.

“Prior to having this clinic, they would have experienced a longer waiting time but now they will be seen more quickly.

“For those diagnosed with cancer, with a haematologist visiting every fortnight, there is now the potential to offer more complex chemotherapy treatments locally.”

In addition to the clinic, Grampians Health’s haematology team is also expanding its clinical trial research to include Stawell, offering advanced research opportunities to staff members and aiming to improve health outcomes for the local community.

Mr Kelly said Grampians Health had expanded access to specialist care in Stawell since its formation in 2021.

This year Grampians Health initiated weekly visits of geriatricians to its hospitals in Stawell and Horsham, enabling patients in acute care to receive timely specialist care, while also appointing a full-time nurse practitioner to enhance local care.

“Opening the haematology clinic in Stawell is part of our ongoing commitment to making healthcare more accessible to regional communities,” Mr Kelly said.

“We are dedicated to ensuring that patients receive the care they need closer to home, which is crucial for their overall well-being.”

People can make appointments at the haematology clinic via a GP referral. More information about the service is available by calling 5320 8500.

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