Many hours of hard work went into planning how we would deal with an influx of cases across our region and I commend all health service staff who worked together to keep us safe.
The efforts of our communities also deserve praise for the sacrifices made over the past year; your efforts have made a profound difference.
During 2020 we were approached by Wimmera Health Care Group to consider ways to strengthen our already strong working relationship.
The WHCG Board had considered very carefully the health needs of the Wimmera community before approaching us.
What they see is a community whose health needs increasingly cannot be met locally. They also see a population whose basic health outcomes in terms of heart disease, obesity, diabetes and cancer are among the poorest in the state.
This means that 10 to 15 people every day leave the Wimmera region to access free public health care. The majority of these people come to Ballarat, which is disruptive and inconvenient for those needing care.
The broad goals of the partnership project are simple; strengthen local health care capacity, increase access to local services, enhance workforce opportunities and collectively lift the health outcomes for the people of the Wimmera. These goals are ambitious but achievable.
Delivering more services in Horsham – by sharing staff, rotating clinics and other opportunities – would mean more people will be able to receive care closer to their family.
Clinical staff would have an opportunity to work across multiple settings and at the top of their trained scope of practice.
The health system works best when it is connected, ensuring that care needs can be met at a time and at a place that is matched with the care needs of the individual.
Some may ask, if there is to be a partnership or an amalgamation, then why wouldn’t it be with local hospitals in the Wimmera rather than Ballarat Health Services?
Although local partnerships, such as the Wimmera Southern Mallee Health Alliance, have existed for some time and will continue to exist, collectively this group does not have the breadth and depth of services that Ballarat offers.
A stronger partnership with Ballarat must add capacity to the great work performed every day at WHCG.
Having grown up in Horsham and having had countless trips to casualty at the old Wimmera Base Hospital, I know how important it is to hold on to the character and culture of your local hospital.
Country hospitals are vital in supporting the community in times of great need.
Regardless of the outcome of these partnership discussions, Ballarat Health Services looks forward to working with health services throughout our region to support the delivery of safe and accessible health care closer to your home.
The first face to face community consultation is Thursday February 4 and people can book online (no cost) for any of the sessions using this link https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/community-consultation-sessions-face-to-face-tickets-133046925937
RELATED: Hospital merger a ‘tremendous blow’
The entire February 3, 2021 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!
