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Grampians Health has opened a new lung function laboratory in Horsham, providing Wimmera region patients who have chronic respiratory conditions, with testing and treatment options closer to home.  

The lung function lab, valued at $55,000, became a reality thanks to the generosity of Horsham Sports and Community Club, which had awarded a grant of $30,000 to Grampians Health Horsham to help with setting up the lab. The remaining amount of $25,000 was funded by the health service.  

Located at Alan Wolff Medical Centre in Read Street, the lab and will be instrumental in treating lung ailments such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.  

The new facility is part of Grampians Health’s efforts to enhance the range of clinical services that are delivered in Horsham and bring care closer to people across regional Victoria.  

Grampians Health’s clinical services plan estimates that the growth in demand for respiratory services has risen by 5.46 percent per annum between 2015 and 2020 in the areas serviced by Grampians Health.  

“Establishing a lung function lab, which is a first in Horsham, will help diagnose respiratory problems faster in the region while reducing travel times for patients who would have otherwise been required to travel to Ballarat to access this service,” said Dr Andre Nel, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Grampians Health.  

Grampians Health has also trained a specialist nurse to help run the clinic, and tests done at the lab in Horsham will be sent to a specialist respiratory physician at the Ballarat campus.

“We are extremely grateful to Horsham Sports and Community Club for their contribution, which has helped make the lung function lab – which is a vital piece of diagnostics equipment – a reality for the hospital,” said Dr Nel. 

The lung function lab opened in Horsham this week, and the team are working through a wait list from local physician referrals.