The Health Services Plan released this week by the Victorian Premier and the Minister for Health proposes a restructuring of the Victorian health care system that would split Central Highland Rural Health.
The networks would group hospitals geographically to provide more seamless care, while allowing existing local leadership and hospital branding. The Plan proposes the development of six metropolitan and five regional Local Health Services Networks based on geography and patient flows.
The Premier, Jacinta Allen, and the Minister for Health, Mary-Anne Thomas, were careful to point out that there would be no forced amalgamations to form Local networks. At the same time, the announced an additional $1.5 billion in funding for health services.
Proposed amendments to groupings and boundaries include a proposal for Kyneton Hospital to be included in the Loddon Mallee network and for the remainder of Central Highlands Rural Health, including Daylesford Hospital, to be included in the Grampians network based around the Ballarat Base Hospital.
The government accepted in principle the recommendation about Local health Service Network boundaries but indicated that amendments to groupings would be based on further consultation with the sector. The Government will provide guidance to health service boards on principles to underpin Local Health Service Network groupings and health services will then be able to propose groupings for their region for approval by government.
Phil Catterson, Deputy CEO and Executive Director of Community Operations at Central Highlands Rural Health, said that the proposed groupings were not finalised and were a matter for further discussion.
“As outlined in the Health Services Plan (August 8, 2024), the recommended Local Health Service Networks have been designed to provide better overall healthcare for the community, improved access to care and to address health inequities through better collaboration with local health services,” said Mr Catterson. “The groupings and boundaries for these Networks have not been finalised with likely amendments to be made following further consultation with the sector and government. We expect to be part of the consultation period, along with other health services, to provide input on what would be in the best interest of our community.”
The Health Services Plan can be downloaded in full from the Department of Health website.
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