By KATH GANNAWAY
LIMITED surgery, provision for a birthing suite in the future, and plans for renal dialysis at Healesville Hospital have been incorporated into Eastern Health’s controversial 10-year blueprint for health services across its network.
But with the Save Healesville Hospital Community Group saying it has no information as to how, when and if the services would be restored or introduced, and with the proposed services falling well short of community expectations, the news has been met with scepticism, rather than celebration.
Eastern Health chief executive Alan Lilly announced the finalisation of Eastern Health 2022 on 28 March, less than 24-hours after a community meeting of about 200 people at Healesville voted to look at returning Healesville Hospital and other Eastern Health-run health services in the Yarra Valley to community ownership.
Maternity services have been closed at Healesville and under the original Strategic Clinical Service Plan presented to the community, surgery services would also go.
The one element of the original plan which has received community support was the introduction of renal dialysis.
Mr Lilly said Eastern Health’s board of directors had considered all feedback following an extensive consultation process in finalising the plan.
“This plan is a blueprint for Eastern Health to ensure we provide the right mix of services over the next 10 years,” Mr Lilly said.
“We are increasing services overall and ensuring the services used most often by the local community are as close to home as possible.”
He said Eastern Health 2022 was the result of rigorous consultation and based on broad feedback from the local community.
“Eastern Health has amended its plan to ensure endoscopy services and low-complex surgery continues at Healesville and District Hospital,” he said.
He said it was also planned to introduce renal dialysis into an expanded suit of clinical services at the hospital.
“As part of a substantial capital upgrade of the site, we will also make provision for a birthing suite in preparation for any future increase in demand for birthing services – and if the appropriate mix of skilled staff becomes available to support a safe, high-quality birthing service.”
He said Eastern Health had asked for the community’s views on the plan, had listened, and had responded by changing the original plan.
Chairwoman of SHHCG Fiona McAllister said while the group would push forward with its plans to develop a business case for a rural hospital model, the lack of information had made things “tricky”.
She said requests for more detail had not been forthcoming but that the group had been invited to meet with the chairwoman of the Eastern Health Board, Joanne Flynn, and hoped to get a better understanding from that meeting.
“What is on offer is not what we have asked for, in fact, it is a very small part of it and there are caveats around it,” she said.
“The birthing suite is dependent on an increase in demand, but whose interpretation will that be when we know that Eastern Health has made eligibility progressively more difficult for expectant mothers to meet… that comes back to the question of trust,” Ms McAllister said.
She said that while there was unanimous support for progressing the exploration of transferring to a small rural health service and the group would continue down that path, its members would also continue to talk with Eastern Health.
She said the priority of the group was to meet with the Minister for Health David Davis and had sent a letter requesting a meeting.
The premier Denis Napthine, during a visit to Healesville on the weekend, told the Mail Mr Davis was very well aware of the Healesville situation… and that he was well aware of it.
He said the minister had been working hard with Eastern Health to emphasise how important it was to have an appropriate range of services in Healesville through the local hospital.
“David Davis has been in touch with Cindy (Seymour MP Cindy McLeish) quite regularly making sure Eastern Health is acutely aware of the best services appropriate to the needs of the community and to also make sure that is delivered,” he said.
Eastern Health has advised the Mail that the final plan is currently being prepared for publication on its website and was expected to be available in the coming weeks.
In a statement issued on Friday, Mr Lilly said the focus for Eastern Health was now to get on with the job of working towards implementing changes over the course of the next 10 years.
“While Eastern Health 2022 will guide future decisions, a key element is its flexibility, which will allow us to adapt the plan to meet changing or emerging needs, and also continue to review and consult with our communities,” he said.
