In the Northern Grampians Shire Council's August meeting, Mayor Murray Emerson said the council and Stawell Regional Health held a meeting in July to discuss their decision to join the combined health service.

"I think we came away reasonably satisfied that we weren't being left in the dark and that we would be continuously informed about what is going on," Cr Emerson said.

"A lot of our questions were very clearly answered.

"We did approach the things that concerned us like jobs and services and whether it is good for the Northern Grampians Shire, all those kinds of things.

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"We came away reasonably happy that we may well be heading in the right direction and something we will be keeping a close eye on."

The proposed merger was announced earlier this month, with the boards of the four health services working on plans over the past 18 months.

Ballarat Health Services, Edenhope and District Memorial Hospital, Stawell Regional Health and Wimmera Health Care Group currently provide healthcare for more than 250,000 people, employ more than 6304 staff and have 21 campuses and sites.

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In reporting the meeting at the council meeting Cr Emerson said the Shire would work to represent the community through the process.

"I know there are opinions throughout our Shire and region that this will not work, but it is a game of us now making sure we keep a close eye on it and representing the community wherever we can," he said.

"It is not a service we can control, but we can certainly be involved in what the community is taking on board and thinking about."

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