The Nationals’ Member for Euroa, Annabelle Cleeland, has written to both the board of Seymour Health and the Minister for Health to express the local community’s dissatisfaction about what is happening to their local health service.
The letter follows a recent community meeting, where more than 120 local residents shared their frustration about the possibility of Seymour Health merging with Northern Health, Epping.
Ms Cleeland said Seymour locals felt ignored and must be included in the conversation going forward.
“The Seymour community understandably feels like they’ve been kept in the dark about the future of their beloved local health service,” Ms Cleeland said.
“They have some questions that should be answered about what mergers will mean for their jobs or their ability to access local healthcare.
“I have expressed these concerns in a letter to the health minister and the board of the hospital and raised some of the questions that were asked during the meeting.”
Ms Cleeland shared her admiration and appreciation for the commitment of those who attended the meeting.
“I want to thank everyone who attended the community meetings in Seymour and advocated for the future of our local hospital,” Ms Cleeland said.
“It was very clear just how important an issue this is for all of us.
“While some of the information revealed was quite distressing, it was incredible to see the level of care our community has for their local health service.
“Our hospitals are a source of pride for our towns and must be given the proper support they deserve.
“This is an issue that sadly will impact many more of our communities across regional Victoria, and I encourage every town in our region to make sure their voices are heard to make sure that our local health services are kept local.”
In the letter, Ms Cleeland questioned whether Seymour Health board members were informed about the impact of the merger, or partnership, on Seymour Health’s financial and operational position.
“There are also questions about why a hospital that is by all accounts running at minimal losses is wanting to amalgamate with one operating at a significant financial deficit,” Ms Cleeland said.
“While Seymour Health is under financial pressure, this would be dwarfed significantly by the financial blackhole of any major hospital.
“For instance, Seymour Health is operating within its financial means, while Northern Health is anticipating a $170 million deficit this financial year.
“To assume the priority of services or staff would flow back to a regional hospital from a major metropolitan hospital under immense pressure would be commercially naive, and it is our local community who will pay the ultimate price with their health.”
Ms Cleeland said the community voice was a crucial part of our local health services and must be protected.
“Replacing this voice by moving local boards to larger hubs like Northern Health is not in our best interest, instead adding another level of bureaucracy for our community to access what it truly needs when it comes to healthcare,” she said.
This view of the Victorian health system was reinforced by the prestigious King’s Fund in a 2015 report, commissioned by the Department of Health.
It stated Victoria had “a well-understood governance model that gives the boards running health services at a local level considerable autonomy within a state-wide framework of priorities.”
The report also said Victorian health services had a culture of innovation and agility, and the freedom to govern, all underpinned by a culture of organisational stability.
“All of this is under threat should these mergers happen,” Ms Cleeland said.
“To go against these objective facts proves the Allan Labor Government cannot manage money and cannot manage Victorian’s health system.”
