Local Health Service Networks announced

“Victoria’s health system is one of the best in the world, and these reforms will deliver even better care by supporting health services to work together and ensuring local voices are heard,” Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas said.

“These networks will mean stronger referral pathways between health services — freeing up beds in busier hospitals, taking pressure off our dedicated workforce and ensuring Victorians get care sooner, closer to home.”

The Shepparton area sits in the Hume network, which encompasses a dozen health services, including Albury Wodonga Health, Benalla Health, Goulburn Valley Health and Yarrawonga Health.

The Hume region will be split into two sub-regions, with GV Health leading complex care for one.

GV Health has welcomed the announcement of local networks as an opportunity to further existing collaboration among surrounding health providers.

“GV Health has worked closely with the Department to ensure the Hume Local Health Service Network builds on the strong relationships we have established with health services in our region,” GV Health acting chief executive Donna Sherringham said.

“Getting the local network right is an opportunity to take that collaboration to the next level.

“Better co-ordination can reduce the pressure on individual health services, leading to smoother access for patients and less pressure on our health workforce.

“By making better use of existing resources, we also have an opportunity to deliver more care closer to where people live, and provide patients with a consistently high-quality experience across the region.”

But support for the government’s final vision for grouping health services by geographic regions has not been unanimous.

“The Allan Labor Government’s announcement of Local Health Service Networks is code for forced health service mergers by stealth, and will result in cuts to services and job losses, particularly at smaller hospitals,” state Member for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell said.

The Liberal MP said Labor’s plan had been in the works for more than two decades, with a version released in 2003 widely criticised and rejected by Victorians.

Ms Lovell said the government had not released crucial details on how the health services will operate.

Her words were echoed by state Member for Shepparton Kim O’Keeffe.

“Local Health Service Networks will come into operation on July 1 this year, yet there is no detail on how these networks will operate, leaving Victorians in the dark about the future of their health care,” Ms O’Keeffe said.

Ms O’Keeffe said the government needed to provide critical details and transparency and explain how creating the networks was going to address the current health crisis.

“We have no idea what services will be removed or centralised, making care less accessible for those in our community,” she said.

State Member for Euroa and Shadow Assistant Minister for Health Annabelle Cleeland said resource-sharing and efficiency could have benefits, but expressed concern that regional hospitals would be sidelined through this plan.

“This is forced hospital amalgamation, plain and simple. Decisions about our local health services will be made by a new board of directors sitting outside our community,” she said.

The government spent months consulting with communities, health services and providers after pushback against the initial health networks plan proposed last year.

According to the government, the governance of each health service, including its board and chief executive, unique identity and connection to the community, will remain unchanged when the networks come into effect.

Planning with health services will soon begin to help finalise the details of how the networks will prioritise work, as well as their governance arrangements.

Four key areas of consideration will be: access and flow, workforce, clinical governance and sustainability.

Local workforces and communities will also be consulted.