Amy Hume
KILMORE and Seymour hospitals could be left fighting to keep their current operative structure after the Federal Government’s call for a review of the Local Hospital Networks.
Both hospital boards now face the threat of being forced to merge their hospital boards with Victorian country facilities under the LHN.
Federal Minister for Health Nicola Roxon wrote to the State Government stating that for Victoria to receive its funding through the national health reform deal it would have to meet certain conditions.
This included a “review of LHNs within two years of them becoming operational with a view to move to greater networked hospitals.”
Kilmore and District Hospital board president, Dr Jeffrey Robinson said the proposed changes were “viewed with concern by the board of management.”
“Such a board would lose the sense of community currently enjoyed by single agency boards,” he said.
“The Victorian healthcare system is often touted as one of the best in the world.
“We believe that the current board structure, particularly for small rural communities, is one of the reasons for this success.”
Kilmore Hospital’s CEO Bart Ruyter said, from his understanding, under the proposed changes the hospital would still have a board in its own right but the major planning decisions would be left up to the “big board” that would oversee multiple health facilities.
“We believe the hospital will lose its sense of community,” he said.
While Seymour District Memorial Hospital CEO Doreen Power did not wish to comment on the issue, Mr Ruyter speculated that this was “the general feel” for most country health boards.
Member for Seymour Cindy McLeish spoke against the merge of country hospital boards last week.
“The LHN will strip local communities of control of their local hospital.
“Victoria has had very effective local hospital board structures for decades,” she said.
“Our government understands no two communities are the same and local healthcare should be managed locally.”
Member for McEwen Rob Mitchell said the Commonwealth is flexible about the boundaries for Local Hospital Networks in Victoria.
“Country hospitals in Victoria are not under any threat,” Mr Mitchell said.
“Contrary to what the Victorian Government is saying, we are not ‘forcing’ any merges of local health facilities.
“Rather, we have simply asked the Victorian Government to consider reviewing the boundaries in two years - with a view to greater networking between hospitals into the future.
“This does not mean any local health facilities will be forced to merge - rather we just want to see different hospitals in local areas and regions working together.”
State Minister for Health David Davis argued rural health services have long established and effective collaborative relationships with regional health services.“State wide providers such as the Royal Women’s Hospital and the Royal Eye and Ear Hospital provide specialist services for many Victorians,” he said.
“The National Health Reform should build on Victoria’s strengths, not remove advantages that have been built over decades.”
Ms McLeish said she will continue to voice her opinion to protect Victoria’s country hospital boards and state wide providers as well as fight to increase health services.
