Angus was one of the first children to attend the clinic after being on the waiting list to see a specialist in Melbourne for three years.
Loddon Mallee children will receive specialist cardiac care in Bendigo for the first time through a new Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) satellite clinic.
RCH paediatric cardiologists and sonographers will visit Bendigo Health every three months for a Paediatric Cardiology Clinic, reducing the waiting times to see specialists.
Bendigo Health cardiology clinical director Voltaire Nadurata said the service was an important milestone for the region.
“It’s a service we have been working on for a long time and we’re excited to see it begin,” he said.
RCH cardiologist Jacob Matthew saw 14 patients on the first day of the clinic.
“It's much easier for families - particularly those with complex needs - for us to reach out and see them here,” he said.
“Some of them have to see a lot of different specialists in Melbourne and have to travel for many appointments.”
Angus was one of the first children to attend the clinic after being on the waiting list to see a specialist in Melbourne for three years.
His mother, Belinda, said she was grateful for the new service.
“We’ve been on the waiting list for three years so when I got the phone call it was just amazing to know we could come here to Bendigo for our cardiology appointment,” she said.