By KATH GANNAWAY
YARRA Ranges Council has declared it will go in to bat for the Save Healesville Hospital group.
Council supported a late motion by Ryrie Ward councillor Fiona McAllister on Tuesday, 23 April, asking council to advocate to local state and federal MPs on the matter of health services in the Yarra Valley.
Save Healesville Hospital Community Group has rejected Eastern Health’s 10-year Strategic Clinical Service Plan and opted to proceed with plans to develop a business plan for a community-run rural hospital model for Healesville Hospital, Monda Lodge (aged care) and Yarra Valley Community Health Service.
Cr McAllister is chair of the group. In a letter to the Mail this week she said the services Eastern Health were offering under the SCSP were much less than the “wide range of operations” provided in the past.
“How can we hope to retain the services of skilled surgeons if that is all that is permitted,” she asked.
“Why aren’t our caesarean mothers allowed to come back to Healesville for the mandatory recovery period?”
Cr McAllister said the committee asked Eastern Health to broaden the range of surgical options to include gynaecology.
“Offering less is not much of an offer,” she said.
The council was told that access to health services had been identified as a significant issue within the consultation currently being undertaken in preparation of the Municipal Health and Well Being Plan, and that Healesville had one of the lowest levels of health status in the municipality.
“Any further reduction of services will impact on the health and well-being of the community,” the report to councillors advised.
Council resolved to advocate to all local state and federal members outlining the needs for residents of the Yarra Valley to have access to high quality surgical and non-surgical health services, and to write to both governments seeking funding for the business plan.
They will also advocate to Eastern Health for further consultation and engagement with the community on its Clinical Services Plan.
“Community members concerned about the future of health services in Healesville are encouraged to join the Save Healesville Hospital Community Group,” Yarra Ranges spokeswoman Tracey Varley said.
Residents seeking further information on the proposed business plan can contact Cr McAllister can be on 0402 985 080.
