Four regional health services to form new Grampians Health Service entity

The board chairs of the four health services involved in the Grampians health amalgamation spoke at a press conference regarding the new entity on Friday morning.

According to comments at the press conference, appointments after November 1, when the new entity is set to commence, would be unaffected by the amalgamation.

Wimmera Health Care Group board chair Marie Aitken said no job losses would come about as a result of the merging of the health services, and predicted a net increase of health jobs in the region.

"I just wanted to say that we have been really clear from the start across all four boards, we wouldn't have considered going down this path if there were going to be job losses," she said.

"The exact opposite is the truth. We want there to be a job expansion across all sites. I think the board, the minister and Bill Brown, the new board chair - feel the very same way."

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Ms Aitken said the new health service would operate a "decentralised" model, which could offer staff professional development among different sites.

Stawell Regional Health chair Rhian Jones said there would be "absolutely, categorically" no loss of service under the new health entity.

"Absolutely, categorically, there will be no loss of service at any of the four sites that have joined Grampians Health," she said.

"The entire aim of this project was to look after local people at a local level. By doing that we will be increasing services, opportunities and hoping to have better access to specialist medical care closer to home. That is absolutely the entire aim of this project."

She said the newly established board, led by Bill Brown, would be looking to complete the 2022 Clinical Services Plan, which would highlight some of the priorities and projects of the combined health service.

"On Monday, it will be business-as-usual, nothing should change in that very first instance," she said.

"What really is exciting, is that by 2022, which is only a few months away now, we will be rolling out the Clinical Services plan and further to that some strategic planning with the new board."

Ballarat Health Services board chair Natalie Reiter, who will not continue on as part of the Grampians Health Service board, said the amalgamation's business case would remain commercial-in-confidence, but urged people to join the group's future service planning.

"The business case that was shared with the secretary of the Department of Health will continue to be a private document as it is commercial-in-confidence," she said.

"It was commercial-in-confidence before the decision and those confidentialities remain.

"The new board has committed to engage in a rigorous service planning process and to engage with the community in the development of that service planning.

"For people who are interested in the new health service, we really encourage you to be part of that process and to be part of the service planning."

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The announcement of the new health entity comes after the four health services in Horsham, Stawell, Edenhope and Ballarat agreed to merge in July 2021.

The decision met sharp opposition from many in the Wimmera, including Lowan member Emma Kealy, Horsham Rural City Councillors, and former surgeon Ian Campbell.

To finalise the amalgamation process, the combined boards of the health services had to submit the case for approval to Victorian Health Minister Martin Foley.

Mr Foley said the amalgamation would improve the provision of health services in the region.

"The creation of Grampians Health will provide a strong, integrated health service to benefit the health and wellbeing of the local community," he said.

"We're ensuring all Victorians have access to the high-quality health care and services they need and deserve close to home."

EARLIER, Thursday:

Four health services in the Grampians region will join together under one group, after Victoria's Health Minister approved the proposal.

The new health service, called the Grampians Health Service, will officially commence on November 1, 2021.

The service will be a merger between the Wimmera Health Care Group, Stawell Regional Health, Edenhope and District Memorial Hospital and Ballarat Health Services.

Ballarat Health Services chief executive Dale Fraser will take on the role of interim chief executive for the first six months of the health service, alongside the leading executive officers of the three other health services.

Mr Fraser said staff and the community can expect steady and consistent leadership from day one.

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"Having grown up in Horsham, I'm excited to lead this transition to Grampians Health, a health service with the scale and commitment to shape a better health system for all parts of the Grampians," he said.

"Edenhope and District Memorial Hospital, Stawell Regional Health, Wimmera Health Care Group and Ballarat Health Service embarked on this journey 18 months ago, and throughout, it's been clear that we share the same values and an intense desire to serve our communities.

"Through ongoing consultation, our staff and communities told us the important issues facing our region. The boards have now acted and coming together is the best way to address this and together, we can co-design better health outcomes for the Grampians community."

Warrnambool resident Bill Brown has been appointed as the chair of the group's board, consisting of 10 members.

Mr Brown, formerly a chair of South West Healthcare, said he was honoured to be appointed to a health service with the ambition and capacity to fundamentally shift rural health for Victoria.

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"I'm a proud rural Victorian and it's clear to me that we need change to deliver the safe, quality healthcare rural communities deserve. That's why Grampians Health is so exciting, as it has the scale, breadth and focus to advance community health and

wellbeing for the long term," he said.

"The immediate focus will be to ensure high quality care in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic and to support our dedicated staff. We will also follow through on the clear commitments that have been made to staff and residents in Edenhope, Stawell, Horsham and Dimboola, and Ballarat."

Grampians Health Board members include Avril Hogan from Edenhope, David Anderson, Heather Pickard and Cora Trevarthen from Ballarat, Rhian Jones and Meghraj Thakkar from Stawell, and Marie Aitken, Nicholas Jones and Anthony Schache from Wimmera.

More information on the transition to Grampians Health, and how the community can get involved in the Service Planning process will be housed at www.careforourregion.com.au.

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