THE Member for Narracan, Wayne Farnham MP, likely to be a Minister in any new Battin Coalition Government, has cried foul over the decision to switch the West Gippsland hospital at the 11th hour into the new Gippsland Local Health Service Network, where Latrobe Regional Hospital would be the provider of the most complex care in the network.
It had been the recommendation of the Expert Advisory Committee, which produced the State Government’s Health Services Plan that West Gippsland Healthcare Group, which operates the Warragul hospital, would be consolidated into the Monash group.
Mr Farnham is aghast at why the Minister for Health would change it now when linking with Monash was the preferred option locally.
“Why would the Minister put West Gippsland hospital in a group with Latrobe Regional when she knew in advance that the preferred model locally was for West Gippsland to be grouped with Monash?" asked Mr Farnham this week.
“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.
The change, putting West Gippsland into a Latrobe Regional Health-dominated Gippsland group, follows the government's decision to allow Bass Coast Health (BCH) at Wonthaggi and Cowes, and Gippsland Southern Health Service (GSHS), with hospitals at Korumburra and Leongatha, to join the Bayside/Alfred group.
The issue being, that if BCH and GSHS join Bayside, the catchment population for the Gippsland network would fall below the threshold level of 200,000 unless West Gippsland is added in.
The last-minute decision seems to fly in the face of the reasons given for linking West Gippsland with the Monash group in the government’s much-vaunted Health Services Plan, as follows:
“This Network (Monash) builds on the existing primary catchment of Monash Health in the southeastern suburbs and extends into western Gippsland. The Network will consist of the four metropolitan hospitals and numerous other sites in the southeast of Melbourne and will provide a mature networked service delivering care to a large and growing population across the region. Consolidating West Gippsland Healthcare Group with Monash Health reflects the strong flows from the Warragul-Drouin District of Baw Baw local government area towards metropolitan Melbourne. Consolidating these services will boost South Metro Network’s self-sufficiency, which is expected to continue increasing as Warragul Hospital’s clinical capability is improved through its connection with Monash Health.”
Local support for Monash link
At the time the Health Services Plan was released, the West Gippsland Hospital Supporters Group released this statement:
“As many of you may have heard, WGHG is to partner with Monash Health under a newly created South Metro Network as part of Victorian healthcare reforms. We would like to assure our community that WGHG will remain independent, retaining its identity and continuing to operate with its own Board, executive leadership team and workforce. Your donations and fundraising efforts will remain with us and continue to support WGHG in delivering healthcare services to our community. Most importantly, planning for our new hospital continues.
“The new South Metro Network will comprise only two organisations – Monash Health and WGHG. It will formalise connections between the two healthcare groups and is expected to help streamline patient care, foster collaboration between WGHG and Monash Health, and create learning and development opportunities for staff.
“We welcome the reforms and formation of the new South Metro Network. Monash Health is an internationally recognised leader in healthcare and partnering with an organisation of its size and expertise will only benefit our community, our patients and our staff. This is an exciting period for WGHG.”
As announced by the State Government on Friday, January 10, the Gippsland Local Health Service Network is expected to include the following: 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.
Despite being launched as the final structure after an already exhaustive process, the government has promised further consultation.
“Local workforces and communities will also be consulted in 2025 to gain their views as well to address each individual community’s health needs,” said the government in its statement on Friday.
Here is the State Government's statement in full:
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 networks would deliver better outcomes.
“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,” said Minister Thomas.
“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.”
While West Gippsland has been nominated to switch to the Gippsland group, BCH and GSHS get their preference for going with Alfred and Peninsula Health in a new Bayside network.
Bayside network: Alfred Health, Bass Coast Health, Calvary Health Care Bethlehem, Gippsland Southern Health Service, Kooweerup Regional Health Service and Peninsula Health.
