Cr Ward not giving up on jobs, services at hospital

MOORABOOL Shire councillor Rod Ward is persisting with efforts to clarify the future of services and jobs at the Bacchus Marsh and Melton Regional Hospital after its absorption into the Western Health network.

In August last year, Cr Ward successfully moved a notice of motion that the shire write to Premier Jacinta Allan, Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas, Member for Eureka Michaela Settle and Western Health chair Jill Hennessy seeking confirmation that there would be no job losses and service cuts at the hospital.

The move followed the hospital’s 2021 voluntary amalgamation with Western Health, along with other services and facilities operated by Djerriwarrh Health Services.

At the time, then-Minister for Health Martin Foley said the merger would actually deliver more services and better care, including in Bacchus Marsh.

But in June last year, Western Health management warned that State Government budget cuts would likely force reductions in elective surgery and scrapping of weekend and high-intensity theatre lists.

The news prompted an alarmed Cr Ward to submit the notice of motion.

The motion said commitments had been given at the time of the absorption that the hospital would remain open and there would be no job losses or service cuts, and sought that those commitments be honoured.

At the council’s December meeting, Cr Ward asked for confirmation that the letters had been sent.

Chief executive officer Derek Madden told him the letters had indeed been sent and that “responses are currently being consolidated.”

Speaking on Tuesday this week, Cr Ward said he had seen one response – from Ms Thomas – but described it as “generic” and without specific details about the Bacchus Marsh concerns.

He said he was not aware of a response from Western Health, which he described as “pivotal.”

“We’ll wait and see what the other responses say,” Cr Ward said. “We want to protect the health and wellbeing of our residents.”

He said protecting jobs was also a high priority and the overall issue was a matter of discussion and concern among residents.

Details of responses received so far could not be obtained from the shire.

Cr Ward said he would raise the matter again at a briefing for councillors on Wednesday 22 January. The next ordinary council meeting is scheduled for 5 February.

The issue of the hospital’s future was further clouded by uncertainty about the Government’s plans for health services around the state as it developed its Health Services Plan last year.

In August, Ms Allan announced there would be no forced hospital amalgamations and another $1.5 billion would be invested to help health services deliver care.

The Government also plans to set up a new agency called Hospitals Victoria to directly support hospitals, along with as many as a dozen networks to streamline service delivery, expected to begin operations in July.