By Aaron Cordy
FINDING specialist health care in the country has often fallen on deaf ears. But thanks to a new partnership between the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital and GV Health, people can now have cochlear implant surgical services in Shepparton, marking a significant step forward in improving hearing health access for regional Victorians.
Sue Kleinert made history when she became the first person to have Cochlear implant surgery in regional Victoria at GV Health. The great-grandmother has suffered from hearing loss since the early 90s.
“I was having problems, yeah, with my hearing. But I still had a young family then, and we’re on the farm up in New South Wales, and it was just one of those things that you learned to live with,” said Sue.
Life became increasingly difficult for Sue, who virtually turned into a recluse as her hearing slipped away from her. Struggling to talk to her husband, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, she avoided people for years as she could not understand what they were saying.
When Sue met the Audiologist at Amplify Hearing and Diagnostic in Wangaratta, Liz Lockett, it was Liz who suggested she could get a cochlear implant. The thought of travelling to Melbourne was a daunting one for Sue and her husband, Robert.
Distance wasn’t the only barrier for Sue, but the ability to have the Cochlear implant surgery at GV Health in Shepparton removed the biggest one for her.
“This partnership with The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital is an important milestone for GV Health and for our region,” said GV Health Chief Executive Matt Sharp.
“Patients in the Goulburn Valley and across regional Victoria now have enhanced access to cochlear implant surgery at a regional centre, bringing timely and high-quality care closer to home. This milestone highlights how collaboration is driving greater health equity and improved outcomes for regional Victorians.”
Dr Richard Kennedy was the surgeon of the Cochlear implant, and Sue could not praise him, Liz Lockett and the staff at GV Health enough for the gift they have given her.
“Dr, Kennedy and GV Health have changed my life. I know I’m probably plugging them a bit here, but I hope I’m not doing the wrong thing. But I just wish it was available to more hospitals,” said Sue.
“It’s so life-changing for me speaking to my children on the phone. I haven’t done that for over 10 years. Haven’t been able to speak to my kids on the phone because I just couldn’t hear them. I couldn’t understand them.
“It’s all been worth it to me. And yeah, if it doesn’t get any better than it is right this minute. I will rejoice till I die, because it just means a lot.”
