"Targeted supports" launched for former patients of Simon Gordon

In response to “serious concerns” raised by women about the care they received from a former gynaecologist, Simon Gordon, it has been announced that the Australian and Victorian Governments are working together “to provide targeted supports for affected patients to access appropriate care and services”.

Australian Government supports

The federal government announced a $7.45 million package that includes funding Victorian Primary Health Networks to establish Care Navigators.

“Care Navigators will deliver individualised care coordination, acting as a central point of contact to help women navigate follow-up care, specialist reviews, and other healthcare supports through a network of local GPs,” the Australian Government said in a statement.

“The Commonwealth is also taking action to prevent similar failures from occurring in the future — starting with strengthening the general practice and gynaecology workforces, through the RACGP and RANZCOG — ensuring higher standards of care are upheld across the health system.”

Australia’s Minister for Health Mark Butler said: “Since these allegations came to light, I have met with some of the impacted women and we have heard their calls for help to access care and support.

“That is why a network of Care Navigators is central to the Commonwealth’s $7.45 million package, giving affected women tailored assistance to navigate the health system.

“The Commonwealth is also working on strengthening general practice and gynaecology workforces to ensure the highest standards of care.”

Victorian Government supports

In the same statement, it was announced that the Victorian Government is investing $2 million to deliver complementary additional tertiary specialist endometriosis support services to the women at five health services.

“This support is in line with feedback and requests from Simon Gordon’s patients,” the statement read. “The Women’s Health Clinics at Barwon Health, Monash Health, Eastern Health, Western Health and the Royal Women’s Hospital will offer specialist reviews with a gynaecologist.

“This service will be supported with a triage nurse to help these patients access and collate all relevant medical records and patient history and offer support reading scans and test results.”

Some services will also offer additional allied health, imaging and psychology support and referrals for appointments will be accessible from mid-April via the Women’s Health Victoria endometriosis concerns line, which has been set up by the Victorian Government “as a dedicated and trusted source for information”.

“Through both these complementary Victorian and Commonwealth services, it is creating a no-wrong-door approach to accessing care. Whether women reach out through the phone line or directly to care navigators, women will be supported to access to care tailored to their needs,” the statement read.

“We have listened to these women who are hurting — making sure they are supported to get the care they need,” Victorian Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas said. “We want all Victorian women to know — especially Simon Gordon’s patients — we believe you, your pain is real and you deserve to be heard.”

The Women’s Health Victoria endometriosis concerns line can be contacted on 03 9664 9330.

Anyone in Victoria requiring urgent medical care can contact the Virtual Emergency Department, Nurse-On-Call, visit one of Victoria’s Medicare Urgent Care Clinics, or in an emergency, dial 000.

If you are in immediate distress, please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636 for urgent support.

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