The Victorian Healthcare Association has called on the Victorian Government to provide clarity on the timelines and evidence underpinning any major reforms to the structure of the Victorian public healthcare sector.
This comes after weeks of media reports noting that the Victorian Government is considering a consolidation of Victoria’s public health services. In 2023, the Department of Health commissioned an independent Expert Advisory Committee to review the design of Victoria’s system of public health services and develop a proposal for governance reform. Known as the Health Services Plan, this work has been informed by sector consultation spanning more than 6 months. In late March, two options - strengthened partnerships and consolidations - were canvassed to health services.
VHA CEO Leigh Clarke urged that the evidence and the detail underpinning health service reform be made public sooner, rather than later.
‘The Victorian public healthcare sector deserves to know where this reform is heading and what it will mean for patients moving through the state’s healthcare system. This period of uncertainty is creating a lot of angst for health services, their staff and the communities they serve,’ Ms Clarke said.
Ms Clarke said that the VHA looks forward to seeing the evidence to support large-scale reform within the independent Expert Advisory Committee’s final report to Government.
‘Following this, should the Victorian Government proceed with reform - irrespective of the design option - there will need to be greater investment into the system to support change-management and implementation,’ Ms Clarke said.
Ms Clarke said that the government must listen carefully to the concerns of services, particularly those based in rural and regional areas that maintain strong ties with the community.
‘It’s essential that there is no loss of community voice, impacts to system access and that any decisions prioritise the best interests of Victorian patients and the communities they live in. Patients cannot be expected to unreasonably travel further for care at their own expense.
‘We know that reform will not be an easy or cost neutral exercise, irrespective of the chosen governance model. Our health services will require substantial support and the system will need additional funding over and above this year’s Victorian State Budget.’
She added that once it is clear which direction the Victorian Government is heading, further detail around implementation will be required, which should include greater consultation with services and the community around system design.
‘While any potential changes to structure and governance will ultimately impact services within the scope of the plan, all services will be affected in different ways. For example, there may be wider implications for metropolitan specialist services in terms of who they collaborate with and under what circumstances and we would also note that it appears that dental services are also in scope.’
‘While this reform is intended to streamline patients moving through the system, geography is only one factor in determining this. The VHA believes that reform of any scale must not compromise the high standard of care that Victorian patients deserve and expect.’
In 2023, the Department of Health commissioned an independent Expert Advisory Committee to review the design of Victoria’s system of public health services and develop a Health Services Plan. The resulting plan will propose options for how Victoria’s system of public health services should be structured.
All Victorians deserve the best quality care, regardless of where they live. Depending on where you live and the level of care you require, there can be barriers to accessing timely, safe, and connected high-quality care, leading to varied health outcomes across the state.
The Health Services Plan will consider the optimal design and governance of the public healthcare system – looking at how public health services can better work together and best utilise healthcare resources to deliver improved care for all Victorians.
The Victorian healthcare system is characterised by a uniquely high number of health services and boards (76, compared to 15 in New South Wales for instance) and has remained largely unchanged for over 20 years. A recent mid-term review ahead of the next National Health Reform Agreement in 2025 sends a strong signal about the need for increased collaboration and less fragmentation in the national health system.
No matter the final design option, the VHA believes that there are key enablers of healthcare reform - funding, workforce, infrastructure and change management - that must be considered for this plan to succeed. These enablers are also important in minimising the negative results reform can have for stakeholders - such as increased costs for health services, dissatisfaction amongst employees and local community members, and decreased access and equity for patients. The VHA’s recent opinion editorial explains more.
For further information contact:
Toli Papadopoulos, Public Affairs Advisor