Community
8 August, 2024
Plea to support health services
A FORMER health care professional of more than 30 years has joined the chorus of voices raising concerns surrounding potential budget cuts and forced amalgamations for health services across Victoria.
Jane Fitzgibbon worked at Terang and Mortlake Health Service (TMHS) for 33 years.
Throughout her career she worked in various clinical and management roles, including spending almost a decade as director of nursing.
Mrs Fitzgibbon is now speaking out ahead of a planned “Hands Off Our Hospitals” rally this month admid growing concern for the future of health services in the south west.
She said she was “very passionate about the safety of patient quality and outcomes,” and warned potential funding cuts and amalgamations could have dire consequences for local services.
“Amalgamations could mean the loss of our local voice for our rural communities, and the removal of local boards and executives,” Mrs Fitzgibbon said.
“The bricks and mortar of the service will remain but service delivery will dramatically change, and there is a high risk of loss of acute services.
“Any loss of staff across all departments of the hospitals, if services are removed, could also mean the loss of skilled staff.
“The risk of staff redundancy will be high, causing personal and financial concerns, but local businesses could also be impacted as they provide goods and services to our local hospitals too.”
Rumours health services will be impacted have been gaining significant public attention recently with local Opposition MPs Dan Tehan, Roma Britnell, Bev McArthur and Emma Kealy all speaking out on the subject.
As Western District Newspapers reported last week, the Victorian Government dismissed to the concerns health services across the state are under threat.
A spokesperson said the Victorian Government has committed a record $20 billion in funding for hospitals and a further $8.8 billion multi-year investment in this year’s budget.
Western District Newspapers understands final budgets are expected to be set soon, and the Victorian Government has engaged an Independent Expert Advisory Committee to seek insight of health services to contribute to the optimal design and governance of the public health system.
However, the State Government has not explicitly denied the rumoured reduction in budgets or ruled out forced amalgamations.
The uncertainty has left people like Mrs Fitzgibbon concerned, saying any budget cuts and amalgamations flew in the face of the aims of health services to provide a local service.
“The Department of Health and Human Services strategic vision lists one of its seven strategic priorities as providing care closer to home – but this won’t be happening,” she said.
“How can patient outcomes be improved by amalgamations if our regional hospitals are unable to meet the current demands?
“Once services are lost they will never return – we saw this when Mortlake hospital was amalgamated 30 years ago.”
Mrs Fitzgibbon said health services in the region were reliant on their capacity to work together through shared services.
She fears any financial struggle inflicted on one hospital could have a flow on effect to another, while amalgamation could impact the existing dynamic of health services working collaboratively.
“Services from regional hospitals, local pharmacies, linen, stores, payroll and allied health services, to name a few, could be impacted,” Mrs Fitzgibbon said.
“Timboon day stay theatre lists are conducted at the Terang hospital by Timboon staff, is this not sharing resources.
“Any impact on health services could have a flow on impact on the number of day stay surgeries
“If these types of services cease, the regional health service wait list will escalate, and there is a potential of poor patient outcomes as the community wait for day surgery procedures.”
Mrs Fitzgibbon said she, as with many members of the community, was also concerned as she has aged parents living locally.
“When our parents have required sub-acute care, this could be provided with a positive outcome and experience at the Terang hospital,” she said.
“Their length of stay has enabled them to recover from the acute illness and return to home.
“Our regional hospital does not have the capacity for the step down or extend care so will there be a greater burden placed on community services, many of whom are operating at capacity?
“There will be a greater emphasis on family and friends caring for community members which may not be possible or have negative outcomes.”
Mrs Fitzgibbon said she was also concerned about the future of aged care in Terang, with May Noonan Aged Care Centre having been shut down in 2023 and only the 15-bed Mt View Aged Care Facility remaining.
Mt View is managed by TMHS, which left her wondering what impact amalgamation could have on the number of locally available beds.
“Many of our small rural hospitals have specific aged care beds, amalgamations will place these at risk of being unable to be staffed,” Mrs Fitzgibbon said.
“The aged care beds in Terang are the only remaining beds for the town, and a potential change in the service could place these in jeopardy.”
Mrs Fitzgibbon said she believed it was essential for communities to raise their voices to send an emphatic message to the government – Victorian health services should not be diminished.
“South west community members need to unite to send a clear message to the Victorian Government – hands off our hospital,” she said.
“Just because we choose to live in rural areas we should not be denied access health care locally, which is a basic human right.
“Change is inevitable but this option will not be positive for any rural community across the state.”
A rally has been planned for August 16 at the Civic Green in Warrnambool from 1pm.
“I urge as many of our community members on the August 16 to join together in Warrnambool to show our communities support hospitals, and to make the government listen to our concerns and understand the message,” Mrs Fitzgibbon said.
“Hands off our hospitals.”