A PROPOSAL for three of the Wimmera's regional health services to merge with Ballarat Health Services has been submitted to the Victorian Government for approval.
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Under the proposal Stawell Regional Health would come together with Ballarat Health Services, Wimmera Health Care Group and Edenhope and District Memorial Hospital to form a new health service under a new health board.
This comes after an extensive public consultation period from Stawell Regional Health and the Wimmera Health Care Group about the proposal.
The plan 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.
Stawell Regional Health board chair Rhian Jones said the group was supportive of the merger proposal.
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"Our community has told us what's needed to ensure greater health care for the future," she said.
"A new formalised partnership would mean we could provide better services to our local communities close to home, whilst maintaining our local identity and the sense of community that people value.
"Should this proceed, it will strengthen our workforce and unlock new opportunities for sharing resources and working together. Together we can achieve so much for our community and the whole region."
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."
More to come.
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