After almost a year of planning, the state’s hospital system is being reshaped from the ground up.
In one more sleep Victoria’s new local hospital networks officially open their doors for business.
The 12 new Local Health Service Networks will replace the state’s 76-strong hospital services networks and are the result of the Victorian government’s decision in August last year to act on the recommendations of its Health Services Plan.
The LHSNs have been arranged geographically, with six in Melbourne and six in the regions.
They include:
- Barwon: Barwon Health, Colac Area Health, Great Ocean Road Health, Hesse Rural Health Service
- Bayside: Alfred Health, Bass Coast Health, Calvary Health Care Bethlehem, Gippsland Southern Health Service, Kooweerup Regional Health Service and Peninsula Health
- East Metro and Murrindindi: Alexandra District Health, Eastern Health, St Vincent’s Health, Yea and District Memorial Hospital
- Gippsland: Bairnsdale Regional Health Service, Central Gippsland Health Service, Latrobe Regional Hospital, Omeo District Health, Orbost Regional Health, South Gippsland Hospital, West Gippsland Healthcare Group, Yarram & District Health Service
- Grampians: Beaufort & Skipton Health Service, Central Highlands Rural Health, East Grampians Health Service, East Wimmera Health Service, Grampians Health, Maryborough District Health Service, Rural Northwest Health, West Wimmera Health Service.
- Hume: Albury Wodonga Health, Alpine Health, Beechworth Health Service, Benalla Health, Corryong Health, Goulburn Valley Health, Kyabram District Health Service, Mansfield District Hospital, NCN Health, Northeast Health Wangaratta, Tallangatta Health Service, Yarrawonga Health,
- Loddon Mallee: Bendigo Health, Boort District Health, Cohuna District Hospital, Dhelkaya Health, Echuca Regional Health, Heathcote Health, Inglewood and Districts Health Service, Kerang District Health, Mallee Track Health and Community Service, Mildura Base Public Hospital, Robinvale District Health Services, Rochester & Elmore District Health Service, Swan Hill District Health
- North Metro and Mitchell: Austin Health, Mercy Hospital for Women, Northern Health, and Seymour Health
- Parkville: Dental Health Services Victoria, Parkville Youth Mental Health and Wellness Service, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Royal Children’s Hospital, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Royal Women’s Hospital
- South Metro: Monash Health
- South West: Casterton Memorial Hospital, Heywood Rural Health, Moyne Health Services, Portland District Health, South West Healthcare, Terang and Mortlake Health Service, Timboon and District Healthcare Service, Western District Health Service.
- West Metro: Werribee Mercy Hospital and Western Health
The Victorian government said the restructure was backed by record investments – including for frontline workforce recruitment and increased funding for hospitals.
Each health service will retain its board and CEO, unique identity and connection to their community.
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Victorian health minister Mary-Anne Thomas said each network would hit the ground running by identifying and planning improvements to address the health needs of their local communities.
“The Local Health Service Networks will mean a better and stronger public health system – freeing up beds in busier hospitals, easing pressure on our dedicated workforce, and delivering faster care closer to home,” said Ms Thomas.
“By working together across each network, health services will be able to better coordinate your care – including easier access to specialist care when needed and bringing your care closer to home for any ongoing care and recovery.
“We’re keeping what Victorians value most about their health services – maintaining a local voice and identity – while better connecting our health system to build stronger referral pathways between services.”
Work has been underway during the past few months to identify early initiatives to improve access to care, better support the local health workforce, and improve the quality of care.
Networks will develop annual plans and three-year strategies addressing four priority areas including:
- Access, equity and flow – making it easier to access and navigate the health system through initiatives like regional waiting lists and support for aged care patients to stay out of hospital.
- Workforce – develop coordinated plans to develop and retain a skilled health workforce.
- Safety and quality – embedding evidence-based improvements for safer care.
- Shared services – identifying back-office efficiencies to ensure better use of available resources, minimise wasteful duplication, and share findings with other networks.
As the networks mature, they will focus on additional priorities, including understanding the care needs of priority populations and addressing these in collaboration, improving integration with other parts of the health system, and improving access to research and clinical trials.
More information about the LHSNs is available here.