Regional Victorian’s healthcare fears following forced merger idea

Regional Victorians fear being treated as second-class citizens if health services were to amalgamate, despite assurances from the State Premier.

Regional Victorians fear being treated as second-class citizens if health services were to amalgamate, despite assurances from the State Premier.

It comes as the State Government announced a $1.5 billion cash injection for Victorian healthcare, while accepting “in full or accepted in principle” 26 of 27 recommendations for a statewide overhaul of the health system as outlined in the Health Services Plan.

The Health Services Plan, which stated Victoria’s 76 separate health services has “unclear roles and responsibilities and undertake duplicated effort”, put forth a number of recommendations.

Recommendations include establishing local health service networks across five areas of regional Victoria – Barwon South West, Grampians, Loddon Mallee, Hume, and Gippsland – with final details to be confirmed following further consultation.

At a press conference last week, State Premier Jacinta Allen said the government would not force hospitals to amalgamate.

Jacinta Allen said the State Government would not force hospitals to amalgamate. Picture: Alan Barber

But Warrnambool local Dom Bushell, who is part of grassroots health advocacy group Hands off Our Hospitals, said he had no confidence the government wouldn’t merge services in future.

He said many locals were concerned any amalgamations would reduce services.

“The reduction of services is solely coming back to state government blowouts on infrastructure projects in Melbourne,” Mr Bushell said.

“Regional Victoria, particularly in our neck of the woods, are going to suffer dearly from decisions we haven’t made, and don’t agree with.

“I think regional Victorians have been treated as second-class citizens for too long.”

A State Government spokesman said the reforms will deliver “even better patient care” through a more integrated and connected reformed health system.

“We will always support our hospitals,” the spokesman said.

Regional and rural health services have faced pressure to find millions of dollars in savings, with The Weekly Times reporting last month Mildura Base Public Hospital could resort to shutting its emergency department, among other cost-saving measures.

Mildura MP Jade Benham said health services across regional Victoria – particularly smaller services – should be looked at individually.

“You cannot look at them as a one-size-fits-all, I don’t think you can look at anything in the regions like that,” Ms Benham said.

“We don’t need another layer of bureaucracy. We need appropriate funding.”

The recently announced $1.5 billion will be invested in funding hospitals and helping deliver elective surgeries.

With the funding, the Department of Health will work with health services to finalise budgets by the end of the month.