THE State Government has released the shape of its new Local Health Service Networks and the hospitals at Leongatha, Korumburra and Wonthaggi have been included in the ‘Bayside’ network with Alfred Health, Peninsula Health and Koo Wee Rup.
It’s exactly what the management of Bass Coast Health and Gippsland Southern Health Service asked for in the forthright statements they made just prior to Christmas.
And official acceptance of the preferred network structure has been warmly welcomed by Bass MP Jordan Crugnale who has been working hard behind the scenes to deliver the best outcome for local health services and their patients.
“We have such strong links with Peninsula Health, Alfred Health and Koo Wee Rup Regional Health and this formalises a grouping that makes sense for patients, their care, clinical support flows and our healthcare workers,” said Ms Crugnale.
As expected, South Gippsland Hospital, which operates the Foster Hospital, will go with the ‘Gippsland’ network to include Bairnsdale Regional Health Service, Central Gippsland Health Service, Latrobe Regional Hospital, Omeo District Health, Orbost Regional Health, and Yarram & District Health Service.
However, in a completely unexpected development for the West Gippsland Healthcare Group, which operates the Warragul district hospital, they too are expected to join the Gippsland network, under the auspices of Latrobe Regional Hospital where they had been flagged, in the state's Health Services Plan, to join the Monash group.
A process of public consultation will follow the announcement.
The State Government revealed the make up of its local networks on Friday this week in a statement as follows:
The Allan Labor Government is putting patients first, delivering Victorians a better-connected health system – one that ensures patients get the care they need, sooner, and in their own communities.
Backed by record investments – including record frontline workforce recruitment, record funding for hospitals and health infrastructure – the Government is establishing Local Health Service Networks.
These Networks are grouped together by geographic regions and will support improved cooperation between local services, ensure doctors and specialists are available to care for patients closer to where they live, deliver clearer pathways in and out of hospital, and support better waitlist management across a region.
The final groupings were determined following extensive consultation with health services – with consideration given to population growth, community need, clinical capability and distance between services.
Importantly, the governance of each health service, including its board and CEO, unique identity and connection to their community, will remain unchanged.
In early 2025, health services will come together to discuss the priorities and arrangements for their Network, focusing on four key priority areas – access and flow, workforce, clinical governance, and sustainability – before Networks commence operation on 1 July.
Within each priority, it is expected Networks will work toward possible initiatives to improve referral pathways, attract new workforce and retain existing staff, and share support services and back-office functions to reduce unnecessary duplication.
Local workforces and communities will also be consulted in 2025 to gain their views as well to address each individual community’s health needs.
The Labor Government made a record investment of more than $21 billion in the Victorian Budget 2024/25, helping health services meet increased demand, deliver more planned surgeries and support the dedicated workforce.
For more information on the Local Health Service Networks, please visit health.vic.gov.au/local-health-service-networks
Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas said the new management arrangements would ensure Victoria remained a world leader in health care.
“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.”
“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.”
“At the centre of our health system reform is Victorian patients and staff – this is about expanding access to frontline services, particularly in regional and rural Victoria.”
Jordan Crugnale welcomes network structure
Bass MP Jordan Crugnale has warmly welcomed the announcement.
“I have been working on this grouping for quite a while now, meeting with respective boards in the Bass electorate, their CEOs and speaking with many community members and health care workers.
“I am delighted that the Minister has endorsed our preferred local area network that joins us with the Bayside Health network.
“We have such strong links with Peninsula Health, Alfred Health and Koo Wee Rup Regional Health and this formalises a grouping that makes sense for patients, their care, clinical support flows and our healthcare workers,” said Ms Crugnale.
“I want to take this opportunity to thank the respective boards, CEOs and exec teams for endorsing this grouping and of course our wonderful community members and health care workers as well as the many people who wrote to me to advocate and to express their support.
“My many representations and discussions with our Health Minister Mary Anne Thomas MP over the last year on your behalf has come to fruition,” she said.
“It’s logical, it’s how we travel, seek health care, reflects patient flows to metro health services for complex needs and reinforces our existing MOUs and clinical service supports by Alfred Health and Peninsula Health.
“Formalising these arrangements will also support the Alfred Hospital’s role in the system by increasing the scale of its catchment and enhancing the sustainability of its highly complex services.”
Ms Crugnale said the region covered by Bayside Health would continue to grow strongly with the catchment expected to expand from 1in 2026 to at least 1.15 million by 2036.
As background information, she said that Calvary Health Care Bethlehem (denominational) had been included in the network due to its geographic location and the synergies that exist with Alfred Health for specialty neurological services.
Not happy Mary-Anne!
The Member for Narracan, Wayne Farnham, likely to be a Minister in any new Battin Coalition Government, has cried foul over the decision to put the West Gippsland hospital in the Gippsland group, where Latrobe Regional Hospital would the provider of the most complex care in the network.
“Why would the Minister put West Gippsland hospital in group with Latrobe Regional when she knew in advance that the preferred model locally was for West Gippsland to be grouped with Monash.
“It’s typical of this government and this Minister that they do what they want not what the local people and local health services want when they don’t live here.
“The Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas is trying to dictate to people where they should go for their health care without listening to what local people want.
“I will be raising this on the floor of the parliament as soon as parliament resumes,” said Mr Farnham.
GSHS welcomes inclusion in Bayside network
Gippsland Southern Health Service (GSHS) has welcomed its inclusion in the new Bayside Local Health Area Network, saying it will improve access to care and lead to better use of local facilities.
After initially being placed in the Gippsland Network, GSHS advocated for a move to the Bayside Network.
CEO Louise Sparkes and Board Chair Athina Georgiou say GSHS will now be part of a network which can deliver health services across the lifespan.
“We appreciate that the Minister has listened to the request of Gippsland Southern Health Service to join the Bayside network and are confident the new network will be a success,” they said.
Under GSHS’s proposal accepted by the Victorian Government, the expanded Bayside Local Health Area Network now includes Alfred Health, Peninsula Health, Koo Wee Rup Health Service, Bass Coast Health and GSHS.
GSHS, which has hospitals in Leongatha and Korumburra, says it is more closely aligned with the Bayside region and has existing pathways and connections with services in the network.
“We are now connected with a tertiary and metropolitan health service and will be able to work with our existing close regional partners at Bass Coast Health and Koo Wee Rup Health Service to maintain a focus on rural health,” Ms Sparkes and Ms Georgiou said.
They said the South Gippsland region had existing transport connections with the Bayside network.
“The data shows that local people go to Melbourne if they can’t get care locally and that will be further strengthened under this partnership which follows the natural geographical transport routes that we already use.”
Ms Sparkes and Ms Georgiou expect all local services at the Korumburra and Leongatha hospitals to be retained and strengthened under the new network. “It’s about fully utilising all of our services and capacity which will mean more care closer to home,” they said.
“As a combined network, we will be able to do a lot of things we currently do independently together, leading to better connected local care and long-term benefits for everyone.
GSHS is confident it will retain strong ties with all surrounding health services.
“GSHS has a great relationship with South Gippsland Hospital, West Gippsland Health and Latrobe Regional Health Service and these relationships will remain important despite operating in different formal networks,” Ms Sparkes and Ms Georgiou said.
“We are confident that the changes to formal partnership networks will not alter the strong ties we have with all our surrounding health services.”
The networks are expected to take effect from July 1, 2025.
Bass Coast Health 'excited'
BASS Coast Health (BCH) has welcomed Friday’s announcement by the Victorian Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas, that BCH will join the Bayside Local Health Service Network, along with Gippsland Southern Health Service, following the release of the Health Services Plan.
BCH Interim CEO Simone Alexander said the move to Bayside further strengthens partnerships with Alfred Health, Peninsula Health and Koo Wee Rup Regional Health Service. Calvary Health Care Bethlehem (Caulfield South) will also be part of the Bayside network.
“These are relationships we’ve worked so hard to develop over the last several years and we’re pleased that input from our staff and our community was included in the final decision about the network structure,” said Ms Alexander.
See details: https://www.sgst.com.au/news/bass-coast-health-excited-to-join-bayside-local-health-service-network
Local Health Service Networks by region
Barwon
- Barwon Health, Colac Area Health, Great Ocean Road Health, Hesse Rural Health Service
Bayside
- Alfred Health, Bass Coast Health, Calvary Health Care Bethlehem, Gippsland Southern Health Service, Kooweerup Regional Health Service and Peninsula Health
East Metro and Murrindindi
- Alexandra District Health, Eastern Health, St Vincent’s Health, Yea and District Memorial Hospital
Gippsland
- Bairnsdale Regional Health Service, Central Gippsland Health Service, Latrobe Regional Hospital, Omeo District Health, Orbost Regional Health, South Gippsland Hospital, West Gippsland Healthcare Group, Yarram & District Health Service
Grampians
- Beaufort & Skipton Health Service, Central Highlands Rural Health, East Grampians Health Service, East Wimmera Health Service, Grampians Health, Maryborough District Health Service, Rural Northwest Health, West Wimmera Health Service.
Hume
- Albury Wodonga Health, Alpine Health, Beechworth Health Service, Benalla Health, Corryong Health, Goulburn Valley Health, Kyabram District Health Service, Mansfield District Hospital, NCN Health, Northeast Health Wangaratta, Tallangatta Health Service, Yarrawonga Health,
Loddon Mallee
- Bendigo Health, Boort District Health, Cohuna District Hospital, Dhelkaya Health, Echuca Regional Health, Heathcote Health, Inglewood and Districts Health Service, Kerang District Health, Mallee Track Health and Community Service, Mildura Base Public Hospital, Robinvale District Health Services, Rochester & Elmore District Health Service, Swan Hill District Health
North Metro and Mitchell
- Austin Health, Mercy Hospital for Women, Northern Health, and Seymour Health
Parkville
- Dental Health Services Victoria, Parkville Youth Mental Health and Wellness Service, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Royal Children’s Hospital, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Royal Women’s Hospital
South Metro
- Monash Health
South West
-
Casterton Memorial Hospital, Heywood Rural Health, Moyne Health Services, Portland District Health, South West Healthcare, Terang and Mortlake Health Service, Timboon and District Healthcare Service, Western District Health Service.
West Metro
-
Werribee Mercy Hospital and Western Health
