By Tanya Steele
Health service provision in Healesville continues to be a source of concern for the Services for Healesville Hospital Action Group (SHHAG) as it has acquired new information regarding the day surgery operating hours.
SHHAG has been advised by a source who wishes to remain anonymous that services to the Healesville Day Surgery will be reduced imminently.
Chairperson Jane Judd is worried about the effects on primary health in the area.
“The concern is that Eastern Health is reducing from five days to three days and stepping back from Endoscopy services in Healesville,” she said.
Ms Judd is also concerned staff potentially would be moved to other facilities in this scenario.
SHHAG has been in operation since 2012 and aims to promote more services to the hospital.
“We need more, not fewer services”, Ms Judd said.
SHHAG also continues to advocate for increased services and urgent care in Healesville.
Ms Judd said Healesville needs these services due to its growing population and the influx of tourists coming to the area over the weekends.
“It can take up to 50 minutes to reach Maroondah Hospital,” she said.
The group has appealed to Eildon MP Cindy McLeish about the issue and it will be taken to parliament this week.
Ms Judd wants to see a range of services implemented in the Healesville location.
“We want to see urgent care as part of the new plan and we want to see increased surgical activity specialist services with things like dental extractions, ear nose and throat and cataract procedures,” she said.
The Department of Health was contacted regarding the issue and maintains that if any changes were planned in relation to surgery at Healesville, Eastern Health would engage with anyone who might be impacted.
When planning health services the Department of Health said that population, community needs, clinical capability and capacity, proximity to other services, and overall demand for services are all considered.
“Eastern Health is committed to maximising theatre sessions across all campuses to deliver the surgical needs of the broader Eastern Health community,” a Department of Health spokesperson said.
“We can confirm that Healesville is being optimised and utilised to capacity.”
“I would be pleasantly surprised if that is the case,” Ms Judd said.
SHHAG is mindful that the time period for the ten year plan for the Eastern Health Clinical Services plan from 2012 to 2022 has lapsed.
The plan was a document that proposed substantial reductions and Ms Judd is very interested in further announcements from Eastern Health.
Eastern Health released a new document labelled “Working Together Towards 2025 Eastern Health Strategic Plan for 2023-2025” on 27 February.
SHHAG awaits further information regarding Eastern Health’s clinical services document.
“We are very interested to see what the next ten year plan is,” Ms Judd said.
The Department of Health has stated there are currently no plans underway to alter days or hours at the site.
