General News
31 May, 2024
West Wimmera rejects health service merger
One of the region's health services has rejected a recommendation to merge with neighbouring healthcare providers - one of two options put to its board by a government committee.
West Wimmera Health Service has rejected a recommendation to merge with neighbouring healthcare providers - one of two options put to its board by a government committee.
An independent Expert Advisory Committee is currently reviewing the state’s health system, with speculation it could see the state's 76 health services amalgamated into 12.
Discussions have been ongoing at local level for months, including at a workshop in Warracknabeal in April, when healthcare professionals, community leaders and policymakers teamed up to "examine the future of rural health".
Under the auspices of Wimmera Southern Mallee Development, West Wimmera Health Service, Rural Northwest Health and East Wimmera Health Service co-hosted the event.
WSMD chief executive officer Chris Sounness had earlier met with Victorian Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas, and the workshop was designed to provide additional feedback to the Minister and the committee.
The advisory committee has now provided its report to the Department of Health for consideration, which WWHS said presents two options as recommendations.
Option one means retaining and strengthening the existing partnership model which would see health services remain "standalone" entities with their own boards of directors and management teams.
Option two would see the seven existing health services in the Grampians region - including WWHS - amalgamated into a single entity, with the process slated to begin as early as July 1.
The final decision rests with the Minister, and while many health services in the Wimmera are remaining coy, WWHS has spoken out opposing the consolidation option.
WWHS acknowledged the current uncertainty of the situation, and said speculation had caused distress for many of the organisation’s stakeholders, including staff, volunteers and community members.
“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 in a statement.
“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 pointed to "significant challenges" to health services in the wake of the Covid pandemic, and "massive changes" in how healthcare is delivered while the existing health system structure has remained largely unchanged for more than 20 years.
"It is important we look at how the system is organised to ensure we are delivering the very best health care, closer to home for all Victorians wherever they live," the spokesperson told the Wimmera Mallee News.
"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.
“The independent committee provided its report to the Department of Health for consideration. We will await this advice before making any decisions."
Over the past fortnight Wimmera Mallee News put a series of detailed questions to Grampians Health, Rural Northwest Health and West Wimmera Health Service.
Grampians Health referred us to the same answers provided by the government spokesperson.
Rural Northwest Health was more forthcoming, although board chairperson Genevieve O'Sullivan could not shed any more light on the merger details.
"At this point, discussions of mergers are premature until the report from the EAC is released," Ms O'Sullivan said.
"Until the direction of the Minister is known, we are not in a position to comment.
"We know nothing beyond what has been shared with the community.
"RNH focus is supporting our staff to deliver the highest level of care to ensure the best health and wellbeing outcomes for our community."