Kealy questions service merger

Uncertainty about the viability of a possible merger between Wimmera and Ballarat health services has prompted a politician with a health-executive background to question the move.

Community health officials have listed a merger between Wimmera Health Care Group and Ballarat Health Services as a way to potentially improve and meet demand for clinical services across the region.

But Member for Lowan Emma Kealy, a former Edenhope and District Memorial Hospital chief executive, said a merger could prompt job losse and mean the region had ‘more to lose than gain in terms of service provision’.

She said a community consultation period was open until mid-february next year and it was crucial Wimmera-mallee residents had their say throughout the process.

“We need to tread very carefully because if Horsham hospital was to merge with Ballarat, then we’ll potentially lose our local voice, local jobs and services,” she said.

“The community needs to have its say and be engaged in the process and informed on what the risks are.”

Filling key clinical roles has been an ongoing issue for Wimmera Health Care Group and its board is keen to explore options to resolve the problem.

Ms Kealy said she would prefer to see improved co-ordination between health services, instead of a merger.

She said an alternative partnering model such as group contracting arrangements between specialist services through Ballarat could be a viable option in meeting service demand.

“A group-purchasing model could allow specialists to enter into a contract with Ballarat, and as part of that contract, they could go to Horsham to provide a service once every couple of weeks or monthly and provide video consultations in between,” she said.

“That could be a way to meet the immediate critical need and provide security of specialists services in the region.”

Ms Kealy said a merger could mean more resources were pulled from the Wimmera health service during times of high demand.

“I draw some parallels with Ballarat psychiatric services, which is an entire-region approach,” she said.

“When there is a shortage of psychiatrists, that minimises availability for the whole region.

“I would be concerned under a merger that Ballarat would get the priority and when they’re short of staff they could simply just pull resources to staff Ballarat.”

Edenhope investigating

Edenhope hospital is one of many health services in the Wimmera investigating the effect a merger could have on regional service provision.

Chief executive Andrew Saunders said his organisation was discussing the proposal and would provide feedback about a potential merger from the perspective of a small rural health service.

“Our involvement aims to ensure that our health service can contribute our views – with a focus on access to quality healthcare for our community,” he said.

Mr Saunders said the merger proposal might present an opportunity to improve clinical services.

“There are opportunities for providing greater access to healthcare locally, an ability to strengthen our acute services capacity, enhancing clinical governance and service delivery, and ensuring safe and effective health services for the Edenhope community into the future,” he said.

The Weekly Advertiser also contacted West Wimmera Health Service, Rural Northwest Health and Stawell Regional Health chief executives for comment but the organisations have yet to release any formal statements.

Wimmera-mallee residents can have their say on the potential merger through a survey until Friday next week and a consultation period will be open until mid-february 2021.

Wimmera health group board chair Marie Aitken assured Wimmera people any final decision would be based on an expansion of clinical services and no services would be lost.

Feedback sought

She encouraged more residents to provide feedback by filling out the survey.

“We’ve had responses from both team members and community members from throughout the region and the basic message has been that if partnering improves the delivery of clinical services to the region, it has to be a good thing,” she said.

“Some ideas and challenges have been raised, which supports us to understand what is important for the community. These will be discussed at face-to-face sessions with the community in January and February.”

People can access the survey online at www.surveymonkey.com/r/whcGandbhspartnership