Community
5 June, 2024
Britnell calls for a hospital guarantee
THE state government has been asked to categorically rule out merging south west health services within the next two years.
Roma Britnell MP directly questioned the Minister for Health, Mary-Anne Thomas, about whether the Labor government could rule it out after persistent rumours within the health sector.
The Minister has 30 days to respond.
Ms Britnell MP expressed significant concerns over the Allan Labor government’s alleged hospital mergers, which she believes would severely impact local communities.
“These proposed mergers threaten to reduce the range of essential healthcare services available to our community,” she said.
“We don’t want our community members to have to drive to Melbourne or Geelong for procedures that could be performed here in our region, resulting in poorer patient outcomes and further disadvantaging regional communities.”
The South West Alliance, comprised of councils and community representatives, met with Liberal Leader John Pesutto and Ms Britnell MP at Parliament House last Wednesday to highlight the substantial positive economic contribution of south west regional communities to Victoria.
A major topic of discussion was the potential merging of south-west hospitals.
Victorian Liberal leader John Pesutto said “while no one will oppose efficiencies aimed at eliminating genuine duplication of back-office administrative services, we strongly oppose mergers driven by the government’s budget failures that deny local communities access to local health services or displace health leaders best equipped to meet patient needs”.
The Department of Health Expert Advisory Committee (EAC), established in 2023, is tasked with designing a new structure for the public health system.
Ms Britnell MP said it was understood this committee has excluded many health services from the consultation process and the ones that were included are forbidden to speak about it.
Former local MP and former TDHS board chair John Vogels AM raised concerns in the lead up to the Victorian State Budget over the “recent speculation of the possible forced amalgamation of rural and regional hospitals in Victoria.
He said he believed the state government was going to undertake “a forced amalgamation and merger of local regional health services”.
Mr Vogels said there was a “lack of transparency” surrounding the decision.
He said current rural and regional health services board members have signed confidential disclosure forms, “preventing them from sharing any information with their local communities, whom they represent”.
“This secrecy undermines the principles of open governance and deprives the affected communities of their rightful voice in decisions that directly impact their health and wellbeing,” Mr Vogels said.
“Leaks emerging from this veil of secrecy suggest that there will be six new rural and regional health entities created, with Timboon potentially coming under Barwon Health, headquartered in Geelong.”
Ms Thomas said there would be no hospital closures.
“We won’t be lectured by the Liberal National Party, who were responsible for closing regional hospitals in Eildon, Koroit, Mortlake, Murtoa, Red Cliffs, Macarthur, Clunes, Beeac, Birregurra, Lismore, Elmore, and Waranga, and privatising hospitals in Traralgon and Mildura,” she said.
“Our track record speaks for itself - there will be no hospital closures under my watch.
“We will always support our hospitals which is why our recent Budget delivers better facilities, more healthcare workers and a record investment of $8.8 billion for our hospitals to make sure every Victorian gets the best care, no matter where they live.”
The Department of Health is providing advice on the recommendations of an independent report looking at how the government can best deliver healthcare across the state to ensure that more Victorians are getting the care they need as close to home as possible, as soon as possible.
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