Yesterday, the Victorian Government released its Health Services Plan and has accepted, either in full or in principle, 26 of the plan’s 27 recommendations. Omeo District Health was delighted to learn that government did not accept a recommendation relating to directed amalgamations of health services, something that both the Executive and Board have strongly argued against on behalf of the community.

The Plan is outlined through three key pillars of reform including the establishment of Local Health Service Networks. These will replace existing Health Service Partnerships and bring together hospitals in a geographic region. Each Network will be accountable for meeting the acute care needs of their local population, including through the planning of clinical services to ensure the majority of acute care needs are met within the region. This is likely to include elements such as waitlist management, care escalation and de-escalation, and clinical service planning across a region or Network.

We will work with the department to identify which grouping of services into Local Health Networks will be the most effective and efficient for us and will deliver the best outcomes for the community, however we anticipate that our existing service profile will be retained.

More detail on the recommendations and government’s response to the plan is available here: www.health.vic.gov.au/research-and-reports/health-services-plan. We invite you to join the ODH Community Advisory meeting on Wednesday 14 August at 11.00-12.30pm in the Pink Palace, 12 Easton Street in Omeo, where we will discuss the plan, as well as our priority projects and programs supporting the roll out of our new strategic plan, the new GP practice brochure and new menu for aged care residents and home-based services.