General News

13 August, 2024

MDHS’ future in the Grampians network

Victoria’s health services system, deemed “no longer fit for purpose”, will undergo a massive billion dollar reform.

By Prealene Khera

MDHS’ future in the Grampians network - feature photo

The overhaul will also inject changes within the Maryborough District Health Service (MDHS).

Last week, the Victorian Government committed $1.5 billion towards the state’s hospitals, and also announced a significant shake-up of the sector.

The move follows the release of the government’s Health Services Plan, drafted by an expert advisory committee.

Listed in the plan are 27 recommendations, out of which, the government has accepted all but one.

These proposed suggestions seek to address “current and future challenges” plaguing Victorian residents — with regional and rural inhabitants facing inequitable issues in accessing appropriate healthcare.

“It is clear our health services and workforce are under pressure, and that now is the time for change,” the services plan states.

“Change is needed now, and this plan will create a more equitable, consistent, high performing health services system, for patients, our essential health workforce, and our community.”

The changes, directed by the recommendations, likely to have the highest impact on locals and MDHS, include:

1) Formation of Local Health Service Networks. This will bring together services and hospitals operating within a set geographical region.

Each network will establish a formal relationship with a major tertiary, a women’s and a children’s hospital.

This will mean patients can easily and quickly access specialist care when they need it, strengthening referral pathways and enabling the sharing of expertise across specialties.

MDHS, along with seven other hospitals, will be consolidated in the proposed Grampians Rural and Regional Network.

This network reflects the existing Grampians Health Services Partnership, which MDHS is currently part of.

If established, the Ballarat Base Hospital would continue to be the provider of the most complex care in this network.

2) Establishing Hospitals Victoria. This would be a new agency in the Department of Health, with a CEO who reports directly to the Health Ministers. It would focus on supporting hospitals to deliver frontline care.

It will also allow hospital collaborations where “it just makes sense”.

3) Setting up an Electronic Medical Record System. Currently, health services in the state use different patient record systems —some of them paper based.

According to the government, “it’s outdated, it’s inefficient and it often causes needless stress for patients and their families”.

The delivery of a connected and standardised electronic system for Victoria’s hospitals will therefore, reduce “delays and duplication”.

Member for Ripon Martha Haylett welcomed the much-needed reforms.

“As someone who relied on our public healthcare system growing up, my priority will always be patients and their families across rural and regional Victoria,” she said.

“Our health system is one of the best in the world, and these reforms will keep us on track to deliver even better patient care close to home.”

Further details around how MDHS’ operations will be impacted will be released after the team reviews the lengthy Health Services Plan, the hospital’s CEO Nickola Allan said.

“As part of this process we’ll be seeking more information from the Department of Health on how implementation of the plan will roll out and what it means for [us],” she said.

“We know there will be further consultation on boundaries [concerning the networks].

“We already work closely with Grampians Health to strengthen the health care we provide as part of our existing Health Services Partnership — we look forward to more clarity in the coming months.”

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