Western Victoria's key public hospitals will merge to form Grampians Health, the Health Minister has announced, despite a public campaign against the proposal.
A Warrnambool resident will take the helm, following a mega merger of public hospitals in western Victoria.
Edenhope and District Memorial Hospital, Stawell Regional Health, Wimmera Health Care Group, and Ballarat Health Services will come together as one, after Health Minister Martin Foley approved an amalgamation proposal.
The plan has been the subject of intense community debate with more than 5,000 people signing a petition started by a local opposition MP against amalgamation earlier this year.
The details
The new body will be called Grampians Health, although all hospitals involved will keep their names.
Warrnambool's Bill Brown is the new chair of the board and Dale Fraser, CEO of Ballarat Health Services, is the CEO of the new body for the first six months.
Mr Fraser said the new body would officially begin life on Monday, November 1.
"Having grown up in Horsham, I'm excited to lead this transition to Grampians Health, a health service with the scale and commitment to shape a better health system for all parts of the Grampians," he said.
"On day one there will be no significant changes to how each local service is run day-to-day, but over the coming months and into 2022 we will work together to develop a clinical services plan that will address the unique needs of each community."
Grampians Health board members include Avril Hogan from Edenhope, David Anderson, Heather Pickard and Cora Trevarthen from Ballarat, Rhian Jones and Meghraj Thakkar from Stawell, and Marie Aitken, Nicholas Jones and Anthony Schache from Wimmera.
Between them, the four organisations employ 6,000 people and look after a region of 200,000 people, including 60,000 patients in 2020.
The minister
In a statement, Health Minister Martin Foley said it would provide a "strong, integrated health service".
"The community were involved every step of the way — everyone involved can be proud of what Grampians Health brings for the future," he said.
A spokesman said there would be no reductions in staffing levels and staff would continue to work when and where they worked today unless they wished to change.
