Local health services merge

OTWAY Health and Lorne Community Hospital will merge into a new health service to be known as Great Ocean Road Health.

Minister for Health Jenny Mikakos last week announced the formation of the new service, which effectively began on Monday, July 1.

“Lorne Community Hospital and Otway Health are coming together as one to share resources and ensure the future sustainability of healthcare on the coast.

“This will ensure people living along the Great Ocean Road and visitors have greater access high quality and safe health services, now and into the future.”

Over the past three years, the Lorne Community Hospital and Otway Health boards have been exploring better ways to share resources to strengthen primary care and improve clinical services at both health care services.

The formation of Great Ocean Road Health builds on this work. General practices are now integrated and better placed to attract and keep more doctors working on the coast. This will ensure the sustainability of local primary care health services, improve service delivery and deliver greater access to care for local communities, when they need it.

The new service will be better placed to meet increasing demand from locals and tourists in Lorne and Apollo Bay, while also ensuring the health service remains financially strong.

Over time, Great Ocean Road Health, operating as a single entity, will be able to expand the range of health services delivered locally.

For staff in both hospitals, it will be business as usual. Great Ocean Road Health will keep all local hospital names, the same services and staffing levels, and there will be no reduction in government funding.

The Victorian government says it is committed to the future of health services in Lorne and Apollo Bay, ensuring they can meet community needs with increased funding.

“I thank the local community and staff of both health services for having their say and helping to shape the future of their local health services,” Ms Mikakos said.