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Concern for Gippsland hospital boards losing local majority to members from outside region from proposed hospital mergers
Gippsland East Nationals MP Tim Bull seeks clarity from Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas on potential hospital board mergers, emphasising local representation concerns and urging a commitment to retain hospital autonomy and community voices.
Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull, has asked Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas to come clean on the future of the region's hospital management. "I previously raised concerns that the Minister was considering merging all Gippsland hospitals under one chief executive and one board, but in response, the Minister said I was playing politics and 'no hospitals will close'.
Tim Bull presses Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas for transparency on hospital board mergers, advocating for local autonomy and community representation
Hospital board amalgamation
Mr Bull said, "There was never any suggestion from me that hospital sites would close. The concern is that consideration is being given to merging all the Gippsland hospital boards into one, and we know this is on the table because hospital board members from across the region have told us. What has happened here is the Minister has provided an answer to a question that was not asked, and we simply want to know what her plans are."
"These board amalgamations are what has already occurred in the west of the state with Grampians Health, where smaller hospitals like Edenhope and Hamilton have lost their say, left only with 'advisory boards' that have no teeth. It has prompted Northern Grampians Shire Council to move a vote of no confidence in Grampians Health," he said.
Local board representation
Mr Bull expressed concerns that some Gippsland Hospital Boards had also lost their local majority and, in some cases, now had a majority of members from outside the local area and who had been appointed by the Minister.
"This leaves local representation on most boards in the minority, and we need to support these board members to ensure their views are heard in representing our communities. The question for the Minister to answer is simple - will she rule out amalgamating our hospitals under one centralised board and chief executive?" he said.
Pictures from Tim Bull MP Instagram page.
Source: www.gippsland.com
Published by: news@gippsland.com
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