The following is a joint statement from Bairnsdale Regional Health Service chief executive officer Peter Abraham, Omeo District Health CEO Daniel Cziperle and Orbost Regional Health CEO Vicki Farthing:
Today marks a little piece of history in healthcare for our region. The new Gippsland Local Health Service Network officially comes into being today.
The Gippsland Local Health Service Network is an extension of co-operation between Gippsland health services that has existed for many years. We share a common goal to support collaborative care across our region.
All of those services share the aim of ensuring that Gippsland people can access quality, safe and effective care as close as possible to home.
The Gippsland Local Health Service Network aims to improve your access to equitable, high-quality and safe local care and commits to build a strong, flexible workforce for the future to facilitate timely access to care as close to your home as possible.
While our health services will remain strong and independent hubs for health care for East Gippsland, we also recognise that, through a strengthened Gippsland partnership, we will deliver better connected care that, in time, will result in a more seamless system of care across Gippsland.
Under the new networks established across the state, including Gippsland’s, each health service keeps its name, local leadership, identity and connection to their community while working with its partners to provide improved access to services and better health outcomes in their region.
BRHS, ODH and ORH will be working hard with our partners to achieve just that. Members of the Gippsland Local Health Service Network include our services along with:
– Central Gippsland Health Service, Sale
– Latrobe Regional Health, Traralgon
– South Gippsland Hospital, Foster
– West Gippsland Healthcare Group, Warragul, and
– Yarram and District Health Service.
In the first six months, all networks will focus on building foundations to ensure they can best serve the healthcare needs of their regional populations. Discussions on this have been underway for some time.
We’re exploring how we can work better together to get the most out of our expertise and resources. As this process continues, we will keep you informed.
