Hospital amalgamation accusations and denials

ON Friday, June 14, Shadow Minister for Health, Georgie Crozier, released a statement saying, “Victorian patients and regional communities are paying the price for Labor’s financial mismanagement as the Allan Labor Government admits health services will have their funding cut.

“[On Friday, June 14] Minister for Health, Mary-Anne Thomas, confirmed at least 20 health services across Victoria would have their funding cut, reportedly by up to 30 per cent.

“This confirmation comes as the Allan Labor Government continues to progress its secret plan to forcibly amalgamate health services which will lead to a loss of services and job cuts.”

She added, “Labor must come clean on their secret plan to cut funding and amalgamate health services across Victoria.

“The Allan Labor Government has admitted it will cut funding to at least 20 of Victoria’s health services which will make it impossible for them to continue to serve their community.

“Labor’s priorities are all wrong.

Premier Jacinta Allan can find the money for a $200 billion train line in Melbourne, but not the money to keep local health services up and running.

On the same day, ABC News ran a story about rural hospital funding.

It said, “More than 20 regional Victorian health services have been told their budgets will be slashed by up to 30 per cent in the coming financial year, the ABC understands.

A member of a regional Victorian hospital board says 25 health services have been told they will receive cuts to their grants and will have to draw on reserves into 2025.

The source, who does not want to be identified for fear of repercussions, said hospital bosses were….

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