General News
5 February, 2025
Health services reform confirmed
The final 12 groupings of the Victorian Government's new local health services network have been announced.
The reform, revealed last week, is due to come into effect on July 1.
Networks are grouped together by geographical regions based on population growth, community need, clinical capability and distance between services.
The aim is to support improved co-operation between local services, ensure doctors and specialists are available to care for patients closer to where they live, deliver clearer pathways into and out of hospital, and support better waitlist management across regions.
The Grampians network will comprise Beaufort and Skipton Health Service, Central Highlands Rural Health, East Grampians Health Service, East Wimmera Health Service, Grampians Health, Maryborough District Health Service, Rural Northwest Health and West Wimmera Health Service.
Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas said Victoria's health system was one of the best in the world and these reforms would deliver even better care by "supporting health services to work together and ensuring local voices are heard".
"At the centre of our health system reform is Victorian patients and staff – this is about expanding access to frontline workers, particularly in regional and rural Victoria," Ms Thomas said.
An independent expert advisory committee was established in 2023 to consider how to improve access to and equity of health services for all Victorians over 10 months.
It developed the Health Services Plan, from which the government accepted 21 recommendations including more collaboration and connection between services.
"These networks will mean stronger referral pathways between health services, freeing up beds in busier hospitals, taking pressure off our dedicated workforce and ensuring Victorians get care sooner, closer to home," Ms Thomas said.
It has also been assured that the governance of each health service, including its board and CEO, and its unique identity and connection to the community will remain unchanged.
However, Member for Lowan and deputy leader of The Nationals Emma Kealy said this was a further step in Labor's plans to take away local decision-making and reduce local services.
"All Victorians should be very concerned about the impact these new health networks will have on local services," Ms Kealy said.
"This ill-conceived plan will result in reduced services (and) job losses and force regional Victorians to travel further for essential care."
Ms Kealy said it was extremely concerning that Labor was hiding crucial details on how these networks would operate, leaving Victorians in the dark about the future of their healthcare.
"I am very concerned that the government is proceeding with its merger plan by stealth, which will see local services diminished and local control taken away from our hospitals as we have seen with the creation of Grampians Health," she said.
"All Victorians deserve the opportunity to access quality care close to home."
The Nationals' Member for Mildura Jade Benham has been calling for autonomy for the region's healthcare if local health service networks are to be implemented.
Ms Benham said she feared the changes would lead to job cuts and reduced services.
"Regional communities know what's best for their health services," she said.
"These so-called reforms will only make things worse for regional healthcare."
Health services are due to meet early this year to discuss priorities and arrangements for their network before it commences.
They will focus on four key priority areas: access and flow, workforce, clinical governance and sustainability.
Local workforces and communities will be consulted this year to gain their views and to address each individual community's health needs.
For more information visit www.health.vic.gov.au/local-health-service-networks