General News
31 May, 2024
Supersized health service disclosed
The seven existing health services in the Grampians region will be amalgamated into one supersized model if a controversial recommendation from a state government advisory committee goes ahead.
The move is one of two “potential” options put to the Department of Health - and regional health services - by an independent expert advisory committee (EAC).
The committee was appointed last year to review the state’s health system, with speculation it could see Victoria’s 76 health services amalgamated into 12.
It has now submitted its draft report, with the final decision resting with Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas. The process could begin as early as July 1.
The first of the two options for consideration would be “retaining and strengthening the existing partnership model”, whereby existing health services remain “standalone” entities with their own boards of directors and management teams.
Option two would create one overarching regional health service.
This would see Grampians Health merge with West Wimmera Health Service, Rural Northwest Health, East Wimmera Health Service, East Grampians Health Service, Beaufort & Skipton Health Service, and Central Highlands Rural Health.
It is not yet known how a regionalised entity might be formed or named. However, under such a scenario, it is likely that the entity would be headquartered in Ballarat.
Grampians Health did not make a formal submission to the EAC panel.
“Our priority is to provide best possible care for the community and we’ll continue to focus on making care more accessible to regional Victorians,” a Grampians Health spokesperson said, in response to a series of detailed questions put forward by Wimmera Mallee News.
“The independent expert advisory committee has provided its report to the Department of Health for consideration and we’ll await any outcomes from government.”
While neighbouring health services mimicked the same government line, West Wimmera Health Service roundly condemned the merger.
“In WWHS’s final submission to the EAC in April this year, we clearly expressed our full support for Option One and our opposition to Option Two,” WHSS said.
WWHS said speculation had caused distress for many of the organisation’s stakeholders, including staff, volunteers and community members.
“We have been assured that regardless of the above this process will not result in the closure of individual hospitals or sites.”
A government spokesperson last week pointed to “massive changes” in how healthcare is delivered while the existing health system structure has remained largely unchanged for more than 20 years.
“We have sought the invaluable insights of all of Victoria’s health services... looking at how public health services can better work together and best utilise resources.”
This week they reiterated their “wait and see” response.
“The independent committee provided its report to the Department of Health for consideration - we will await this advice before making any decisions,“ the spokesperson said on Tuesday.
Rural Northwest Health chairperson Genevieve O’Sullivan also said she could not shed any more light on the potential merger.
“At this point, discussions of mergers are premature until the report from the EAC is released,” Ms O’Sullivan said.