VICTORIA’S rural and regional health services are in crisis mode, with increased demand compounded by Easter and Anzac Day long weekends, suspensions of maternity services, and Code Yellows across several hospitals.

A Code Yellow was declared at Ballarat Base Hospital on Friday and at hospitals in Shepparton and Wangaratta recently, while Albury Wodonga Health was allegedly forced to trigger the code twice after being overloaded with patients from both sides of the border.