On Friday, January 10, the Victorian Government announced KDHS would be joining the newly formed Hume Local Health Network as part of a revised state health system.
The Hume Local Health Network, one of 12 new networks, aims to improve connections between local health services by unifying hospital administration systems across the region.
The strategy followed a rejected recommendation to force amalgamations between health services across Victoria.
Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas said the networks would mean “stronger referral pathways between health services” and would free up beds in busier hospitals to take pressure off the health workforce.
“At the centre of our health system reform is Victorian patients and staff — this is about expanding access to front-line services, particularly in regional and rural Victoria,” Ms Thomas said.
Other health services that will fall into the Hume Local Health Network include GV Health, Benalla Health, Albury Wodonga Health, Mansfield District Hospital, Beechworth Health Service and more.
The announcement has been criticised by local politicians who believe this will lead to major consequences down the line.
State Member for Murray Plains Peter Walsh said he believed it was the first step towards forcing mergers on regional health services.
“Our regional communities deserve more than being treated like second-class citizens and their local health services stripped of their autonomy, particularly when you see how much all those services have been improved by local donations, local fundraising and local commitment,” Mr Walsh said.
KDHS chief executive Anne McEvoy said there were “no surprises” that the health service would be grouped with the Hume network over Loddon Mallee due to the high “patient flow” KDHS had through its new Hume counterpart GV Health.
Though, how this decision will affect the relationship between Echuca Regional Health, which is stationed in the Loddon Mallee Health Network, and KDHS remains to be seen.
Ms McEvoy said it was “too early” to tell how services would work between different networks.
“There won’t be any immediate changes,” she said.
“We still do work very closely with (ERH) ... that relationship won’t be excluded.”
She said the option of KDHS amalgamating with another service rested with the board, and this network overhaul was just another step in the right direction towards reform in the health system.
“The inefficiencies, the confusion, the firm referral pathways — in particular for rural people — research shows that our outcomes for rural people in health are poor,” she said.
“I believe we were very well informed (by the Victorian Government) ... and it really is a benefit to the community, if we can get services to be delivered locally to us, that’s got to be a positive.”
While there won’t be any noticeable changes to how business is run at the Fenaughty St health service, behind the scenes it is all systems go, with KDHS ICT systems transitioning to the Hume network.
As far as how KDHS will look, the health service will remain as an individual and unique entity, keeping its chief executive and board team.
However, the board will adjust its governance as the network adjusts to the new model.
“We’ve been eagerly waiting on groupings (of networks) ... I think as of the middle of February will be our first main come together (as a network),” Ms McEvoy said.
Slowly, she expects the network will allow for extra support from neighbouring health services, such as GV Health, and allow for better care closer to home.
KDHS will officially join the Hume network on July 1, 2025; however, it will be “business as usual” until and after then.
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