In November 2022, Jean Hailes for Women’s Health, Latrobe Health Services and Maryvale Private Hospital partnered to bring a telehealth women’s health clinic to Maryvale Private Hospital as the first step in potentially establishing a face-to-face clinic.
Unfortunately, consumer demand for the clinic has been low. This, coupled with national shortages in the GP workforce and the state government announcement of a new women’s health clinic in the Latrobe Valley, has resulted in Jean Hailes for Women’s Health deciding it can no longer provide clinical services at Maryvale Private Hospital.
While disappointing, the findings from this initiative - the first of its kind in Australia - will inform Latrobe Health Services’ and Jean Hailes’ future work to improve the health of women across Gippsland.
The three partner organisations remain committed to improving women’s health education and literacy using the lessons learned from the trial.