HEALTH Minister Mary Anne Thomas has stopped short of ruling out mergers of small rural health services into a Bendigo-based monolith,
The Victorian minister at the weekend told the Loddon Herald that there would not be hospital closures.
“Our track record speaks for itself – there will be no hospital closures under Labor,” she told the Loddon Herald when asked whether health services would be merged.
Internal government proposals have Boort District Health and Inglewood and Districts Health Service coming under the umbrella of Bendigo Health in a state-wide restructure of regional and rural health services.
The Government has appointed an “experienced independent expert advisory committee” to review the public health system.
Former Labor Government minister and Bendigo Health chairman Bob Cameron is chairing the committee. Mr Cameron last year became chairman of Coliban Water.
Also on the review committee are Dr Alex Cockram, Professor Christine Kilpatrick, Therese Tierney and Lance Wallace.
“The Government will consider the recommendations of the independent committee and Department of Health before making any decisions,” a Government background statement said.
“The current structure of Victoria’s health system has been in place for over 20 years, despite massive changes in how healthcare is delivered, and the specific healthcare needs of our communities.
“We have sought the invaluable insights of all of Victoria’s health services to contribute to the optimal design and governance of the public health service system – looking at how public health services can better work together and best utilise resources to deliver the best care for all Victorians closer to home as soon as possible.”
Ms Thomas last week flagged patients at Bendigo Health returning to rural hospitals soon after treatment to relieve pressure on the major health provider. However, Ms Thomas did not answer questions on whether there had been a review of capacity at Boort and Inglewood for early-transfer patients.
She also did not answer questions on funding that will be available for the Boort and Inglewood services this year with Coalition claims  there would be cuts for at least 20 health services.
Instead, Ms Thomas said: “While the Liberal Nationals are playing politics, we are getting on and building a better health system which is why our recent Budget delivers better facilities, more healthcare workers and a record investment of $8.8 billion for our hospitals to make sure every Victorian gets the best care, no matter where they live.”
In one radio interview, she said: ““We currently have 76 health services, all with their own boards ... that’s great and it has served us well but it is time to look at whether it is the right model for the future,” she said.
A Government spokesperson said individual health services would be consulted by the department of health before any budget modelling is finalised. 
The spokesperson said planned funding would ‘mark a return to pre-COVID funding models’ and aims to ensure regional hospitals can reduce their ‘reliance on top-up funding.’ 
Shadow health minister Georgie Crozier said: “Labor must come clean on their secret plan to cut funding and amalgamate health services across Victoria.  
“The Allan Labor Government has admitted it will cut funding to at least 20 of Victoria’s health services which will make it impossible for them to continue to serve their community,” she said.
Murray Plains MP Peter Walsh last month said local health services were in the Government’s firing line “with their funding already on life support and their independence almost certain to be lost, with centralised control putting Bendigo in charge of everything west to Mildura”. Mr Walsh said the State Budget could have brutal consequences for country towns.