Lisa Neville to undergo surgery for Crohn’s disease, won’t be back at work until late June

Victorian Police Minister Lisa Neville has revealed her health has worsened, and will not be returning to work until the end of June.

Police Minister Lisa Neville requires a small bowel resection after her Crohn’s disease worsened. Picture: David Geraghty/NCA NewsWire

Victorian Police and Emergency Services Minister Lisa Neville will undergo surgery for a serious health condition and will not return to work until midyear.

Ms Neville, who revealed earlier this year she has an inflammatory bowel condition called Crohn’s disease, has released a statement saying she will be admitted to hospital on Tuesday to undergo a small bowel resection.

The veteran minister, who also holds the water portfolio, has been on leave for more than a month to try to recover from health problems.

“The medical advice I received at the time was to undertake a period of rest and treatment – designed to give me the best chance of recovery without surgery,” she said.

“Despite two and a half weeks in hospital, an intensive regime of biological drug treatment and three weeks of recovery out of the public eye, this week I have undertaken a series of tests, including an MRI that has indicated that my condition has in fact worsened.

“As a result, my doctors have indicated that the only effective treatment now is surgery.”

The significant operation may take 12 weeks of recovery and Ms Neville may not return to her roles until the end of June.

Ms Neville was spotted in Port Douglas.

Ms Neville requested privacy over the next three months, saying that stress was a major driver of the condition.

The request comes after the minister was photographed in Queensland at a restaurant last month while on sick leave.

“Although it is disappointing and always concerning to have part of your bowel removed, for many who have Crohn’s this can result in a period of remission and enable people to return after recovery to normal life and work,” Ms Neville said.

“I have every confidence in my medical team and the nursing support at the hospital that this surgery will give me the chance to achieve this.

I thank all of my friends and colleagues for their ongoing support during this time.

“I would especially like to thank all those who suffer from Crohn’s or similar illnesses who have reached out. This is very much a hidden illness and unless you have experienced it firsthand it is hard to understand the toll it can take, both physically and mentally.