The expansion of Bendigo Health's cath lab service will see an additional 200 people treated each year.
Bendigo Health will provide around the clock care for heart attack sufferers in the region from this weekend when its cardiac cath lab becomes a 24/7 service.
The service is an extension of the existing weeknight on-call emergency service, enabling critical care to be undertaken at Bendigo hospital over the weekend.
Head of cardiology Voltaire Nadurata said the service was a boost for regional communities as it would provide quicker access to emergency care.
“If you have a heart attack, every minute counts,” he said.
The state government provided funding to Bendigo Health to train six specialist heart nurses in order to staff the 24/7 service.
Staff will be on call over the weekend, including a consultant, cardiologist, registrar, radiographer and nursing staff.
Bendigo Health Board Chair Bob Cameron said the expansion of the service will see an additional 200 people treated each year.
“Since we opened the cath lab in the mid 2000s we have been gradually building capacity in the service,” he said.
“It’s fantastic to provide the weekend service and become a 24/7 cardiology hospital so people can be treated quicker, locally and receive local follow up services.”
Mr Cameron said the hospital had treated 260 patients this year to September 30, compared to 280 in 2019.
The service will treat patients from Swan Hill to Shepparton and throughout the Loddon Mallee region.