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Mansfield Courier 290524

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2022

Incorporating

Wednesday, May 29, 2024

Phone: (03) 5775 2115

$2.00 (inc.GST)

www.mansfieldcourier.com.au

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LAVENDER FARM APPROVED

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COUNCIL ROAD CONFUSION SHOW OF SUPPORT: With the Mansfield District Hospital facing consolidation under the jurisdiction of Goulburn Valley Health in Shepparton, Dr Will Twycross, Mayor Cr Steve Rabie, Dr Graham Slaney and Cr Mark Holcombe took to the Farmers’ Market on Saturday rallying community support in opposition to the merger.

The fight begins

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MURDER TRIAL Community C ity rallies lli tto save M Mansfi field ld Di District ti tH Hospital pit l ffrom amalgamation lg ti CONTINUES

WITH petitions at 20 venues across the township and medical practitioners and staff out in force at the Farmers’ Market on Saturday, the campaign to save the Mansfield District Hospital from amalgamation has begun in earnest. Standing as a united front, doctors from both Central General Practice and the Mansfield Medical Clinic, along with visiting specialists and Mansfield Shire councillors, spent the morning talking with the community on the local

BY EMMA OLIVER eoliver@ nemedia.com.au

impact of budget reforms to the health care system. Under the state government’s Health Services Plan, community ownership of the Mansfield District Hospital would be relinquished, falling under the jurisdiction of Goulburn Valley Health (GV Health). The current powers and responsibilities of the hospital board would

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either be dissolved or downgraded, and the role of CEO made redundant, resulting in a remote administration, based in Shepparton. The ability to respond to shire health care needs and drive innovation at a local level would ultimately be lost. Dr Graham Slaney voiced concern for the future of the hospital’s obstetrics and emergency services. “Any forced consolidation suggests that there will be a rationalisation of services across the region,” he said.

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“Judging by experience both interstate and closer to home - when organisations get amalgamated services are often reduced on the periphery. “And we’re on the periphery.” News confirming that the hospital will merge under GV Health raises further concerns. Currently Mansfield does not have any referral pathways to the health service provider. “We do however have a great working relationship with North East Health

in Wangaratta and for more specialist services Albury Wodonga Health have clinicians that visit Wangaratta which we have access to,” Dr Slaney said. This would all change under Department of Health reforms. In addition to forging new operating systems with GV Health, it is the increased travel time that represents a significant issue. “Travelling an hour and a half to seek medical attention is just dangerous,” Dr Slaney said. ■ Continued page 2

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