The decision of Gippsland Southern Health Service and Bass Coast Health to join a merger with major metropolitan hospitals will be a long-term disaster according to local Nationals MPs.
The Nationals Member for Gippsland South, Danny O’Brien said the news of the merger was confirmation that Labor’s health service plans were simply mergers by stealth.
“I am seriously concerned at this announcement and the impact it will have on provision of health services for the people of South Gippsland. While the Government and the respective boards will talk-up all the potential benefits, the reality is small rural services will always lose out to the much bigger and busier hospitals like The Alfred and Frankston.
“In addition, there has been virtually no consultation with the wider community on this plan, which is only just getting used to the idea of the proposed new health service network and now is told its local hospital will lose its autonomy under a new board covering the region from inner city South Yarra to Tarwin Lower.
“This mega merger is what we’ve been warning about for the last couple of years and is part of Labor’s plans to consolidate that will only diminish our smaller rural services.”
The Nationals Member for Eastern Victoria Region, Melina Bath said no one should believe assurances from the Allan Government about health jobs and services.
“These mergers are about saving money because Labor can’t manage money and regional Victorians are paying the price.
“While we might get some loose commitments that there are no job or service delivery losses for the first few years but over time, the big hospitals will take the lion’s share and we will get the crumbs.
“The community has not been consulted on this merger idea and many will be very angry that local hospital boards are going, along with local control of our own health services.”