Under the proposal, the Wimmera Health Care Group, Stawell Regional Health, Edenhope and District Memorial Hospital would come together with Ballarat Health Services to form a new health service under a new health board.

This comes after an extensive public consultation period from the Wimmera Health Care Group about the proposal.

The announcement saw many figures such as Lowan member Emma Kealy and Horsham Rural City Council publicly oppose any proposal which would see the health services merged.

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Wimmera Health Care Group board chair Marie Aitken said the proposed new health service would improve community health services.

"We are excited by the opportunities a new health service could bring. Should approval be given, it will create better services for our patients and career opportunities for our staff and support enhanced health and wellbeing for our communities," she said.

"After extensive consultation with the other boards, the community and staff, I am confident about the future of health care for our local area and the region.

"The new entity will have the scale to shape a better health system for all parts of the Wimmera and Grampians region, enabling safer, connected and people-centred health care, closer to home."

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Ballarat Health Services Board chair Natalie Reiter reiterated the windfalls of the merger.

"Our decision-making process highlighted some of the great things about our services," she said.

"We have highly skilled and dedicated staff that provide leading healthcare to tens of thousands of patients every year.

"We have great connections and partnerships with our communities, a proud legacy of care and innovation, and trusted relationships with patients, families, carers, volunteers and other health services in the region.

"We are committed to a well-planned and resourced implementation process and to including our patients, staff and partners in the decisions that impact them."