Merger petition

Member for Lowan Kealy has launched a petition against a proposal to merge Wimmera Health Care Group and Ballarat Health Services.

She has urged people to sign the petition in response to state Health Minister Martin Foley declining an invitation to visit Horsham to hear community concerns.

“My office continues to be inundated with emails and phone calls about this issue, with 100 percent against the amalgamation,” she said.

“The primary concern is that amalgamation will lead to significant job losses and a loss of local control over services that residents have fought for and raised money for over many decades.

“While the minister is saying it is not a political decision, we know amalgamations are happening across the state and that it is Labor government policy to amalgamate country health services.

“It is critical that the minister comes to Horsham to listen to local people and understand the overwhelming consensus that people want to keep their health services local and do not want their local hospital to merge with Ballarat.”

Ms Kealy said whether the problem was funding, infrastructure, insufficient clinical staff and specialists or recruitment, merging was not the solution.

“Locals are smart enough to see that promises of more services, more doctors, more money and better infrastructure can be achieved without having to hand control of our hospital to Ballarat,” she said.

Ms Kealy said the petition was available at various Horsham retail outlets and her electoral office in Firebrace Street, Horsham.

She said businesses wanting to have the petition available for customers to sign could call her office on 5382 0097 or email emma.kealy@parliament.vic.gov.au.