Lorne Community Health and Otway Health in talks to merge

LORNE Community Hospital and Otway Health are considering a merger but say it will be “business as usual” at the two health services if the proposal is approved.

In a media statement released last month, the two hospitals revealed they had been working over the past 18 months on a proposal to “create a sustainable health service along the Great Ocean Road”.

The boards of both hospitals are planning to seek approval from Victorian Health Minister Jenny Mikakos to “combine operations under a single entity”.

“The joint proposal to combine the health services of Lorne Community Hospital and Otway Health will ensure the provision of improved service delivery and greater access to clinical care along the Great Ocean Road and into the Otways”.

No job losses are expected, and benefits for patients and staff would include:
• Greater access to a broader range of health services locally, and more choice as to where health services are delivered
• Better connectivity and delivery of services across both sites
• Improved access to health services at both Lorne and Apollo Bay
• Greater ability to meet patient needs at different stages of life and within their own community
• Improved accessibility to, and co-ordination of, aged care services
• Improved access to health care professionals with more experts available to both sites
• More opportunities for staff professional development and flexible job sharing in order to develop, upskill and retain staff
• Enhanced sustainability and increased stability of GP services throughout the local region, and Improved operational efficiency to allow diversion of resources towards enhancing direct patient care.

According to the statement, the names for each local campus will remain the same – Lorne Community Hospital and Otway Health – but an umbrella name for the combined entity will be included in the proposal.

“It will be business as usual for both hospitals, right where they are now. Each hospital will continue to operate its respective urgent care, acute care and residential aged care, community Services and neighbourhood houses, exactly as they do now.”

Consultation with staff from both health facilities and each community is continuing – head to otwayhealth.org.au or lch.org.au.