Backflip on health mergers still leaves questions

WHILE Casterton Memorial Hospital and Western District Health Service dual chief executive, Rowena Clift welcomed the government’s new Health Services Plan, Opposition MPs state that the government is still forging ahead with mergers albeit in a different format. Photo: SUPPLIED.

By Lizzie Hallam

August 09, 2024 | 4:00 PM

FOLLOWING on from The Spectator’s front-page story on Wednesday, August 8, which quoted a local physician expressing concerns about the Victorian Government’s plans to amalgamate multiple health services, in an about-turn on Thursday, health minister, Mary-Anne Thomas has reportedly ditched such plans.

Earlier this week, Dr Andrew Bowman said locals were concerned they were being left in the dark about what was happening with regards to a possible merger of Western District Health Service (WDHS) with other regional health services.